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EDITORIAL OUTING IN THE YOSEMITE.
WHAT THE VISITOR FINDS IN THE VALLEY-A DESCRIP
TION OF THE TRIP— INDESCRIBABLE SCENES DE
SCRIBED-WORD PAINTING AT GLACIER POINT
AND IN THE MARIPOSA BIG TREE GROVE.
A PLEASANT REVIEW OF THE TRIP MADE BY THE EDITORIAL PARTY
Mrs. Mary B. Proud, who joined the
Editorial Outing Party, representing
the Los Angeles Evening Express, has
kindly furnished the Imperial Press
with the following account of the
trip:
We left Los Angeles at 12:10 Thurs
day, June 12. All were in the best of
spirits and filled with jubilant antici
pations—with the thought that we
should soon behold the wonders of
Yosemite.
Leave the Railroad.
We reached Raymond, the railroad
terminus, at sunrise the next morning
and everyone was up and ready to
leave the car as soon as it rolled into
the station. This particular feature
prevailed throughout the entire trip.
Not once were we called on to wait
for any member of our party. This
was, perhaps, remarkable, but true,
notwithstanding the fact that one of
the ladies of the party told of how, a
few years ago, she had to take the
greater part of her wedding trip
alone, because her husband let the
train go off without him. With one
side of his face shaved and the other
besmeared with lather, he tore down
the street, beating the air with his
fists, but all in vain. The train was
out of reach, so also was his bride.
He had ample time to learn that 7:30
did not mean 7:31, and it would seem
that he learned it well. We would
not wish to be personal, but If you
see Mr. Melick ask him. He can tell
you all about it.
The Hotel at Raymond had been
burned a few clays previous to our
arrival. The rear and wing of a gro
cery store had been utilized for the
benefit of travelers, and here we had
a good breakfast and were again
reaoy for the stage. Some eight or
nine stages with seating capacity for
from eight to eleven persons, besides
their luggage, drawn by four good
stout horses, were soon filled, and
with a loud hurrah we were off.
Seventy Miles of Staging.
Seventy long miles, mostly up
grade, were before us, but no one
seemed to mind either the distance or
the dust as we jogged along. From
Raymond to Ahwahnee there is a
sameness that would doubtless have
grown monotonous, save for the hi
larity and jovial good feeling that pre
vailed.
At two o'clock we reached Ahwah
nee, where we had luncheon, which
was very good indeed. The hotel was
fairly filled with beautiful flowers and
their freshness and fragrance was
restful, to say the least. This is a
beautiful spot— a place where those
who are weary of business, society or
what not, may rest in peace. In one
hour we were again journeying on
ward.
A Sixty-five Mile Flume.
About half way between Ahwahnee
and Wawona our attention was called
to an immense flume that is sixty-five
miles in length. As it stands on its
wooden legs and winds in and out
among the hills, it reminds me of a
monstrous centipede, with the top of
Its back cut off, so as to form a
trough. There it stands and sixteen
carloads of lumber each day is car
ried through it from one of the larg-
IMPERIAL PRESS
est mills in the State, and placed on
cars for further transportation. ,
In the Forests.
We reached Wawona at 8 o'clock.
Next morning we arose at 5 o'clock
and looked about us. To the right of
the hotel the mountains are a good
height, and at their feet flows the
south branch of the Merced River,
which rushes along, adding much to
the beauty of the surroundings, but
we have not the time to do justice to
this retreat, so we set out once more
for the valley. ', '-
We have already passed through
miles of beautiful forest, but as we ad
vance from here the scenery is more
wild and wonderful. Mountain
streams go rushing along, the grade
is longer and steeper till at last,
through the trees and in the distance
From Imperial
Press Kodak
NEVADA FALLS IN YOSEMITE VALLEY WITH HALF DOME TO TUB LEFT.
those on the front seat catch a
glimpse of the grand, glorious won
ders of the Yosemite. In a few mo
ments the stage swings around a
sharp curve, is driven broadside along
the edge of a precipice, the horses are
brought to a dead standstill, and our
proudest hopes are realized. We have
reached Inspiration Point. I could
not think of attempting to describe
the scene that, is now before us, but
will simply note some of the most
prominent features.
Yosemite Valley.
The valley is completely hemmed in
by solid gray granite walls, which are
sombre in appearance and which rear
their heads in many places to heights
of from 3000 to 5000 feet above the
floor of the valley. These walls are
nearly all perpendicular. El Capltan
is on the left, and is the giant of the
Yosemite. It's face is almost as
smooth as though it had been polished
and it contains 160 acres of perpen
dicular wall. The rains have brought
out many different colors, and dark
streaks can be seen in many places.
At about midway these stains have
so arranged themselves as to form an
almost perfect map of North America.
Just below is the figure of an old man
who stands half bent looking down
the valley.
Just beyond El Capitan are the
Three Brothers. At the head of the
valley and in the distance we see
Cloud's Rest and Half Dome. To th<
right, and directly in front of El
Capitan is the Bridal Veil Falls. You
have heard of their beautiful, lacy
appearance as they come tumbling
down 600 feet before reaching the bot
tom. It is more than true. The story
has never half been told. Next are
the Cathedral Spires, then the Three
Graces, then Glacier Point and you
have practically been round the valley
from where we drew rein, barring
that at the foot of the valley you find
Cascade Falls.
The floor of the valley has an area
of about 2000 acres of land, which is
covered with a variegated carpet of
green meadows. Through these mead
ows from the rocky cliffs that sur
round them come tumbling, roaring
and pouring ten different streams—
the main one being the Merced River.
As the eye follows these different
streams and the sunlight kisses them
here and there, leaving a streak of
purple or silver, you are lost as you
grope for comparisons, and can only
say, "Never have I seen the like he
fore."
Down from the Heights.
But we must pass on, for we still
have a drive of two hours before
reaching the hotel. Down, down,
down we go, till at length we reach
the level, but we are still 4000 feet
above sea level.
As we stand on the back veranda
of the hotel we find the Yosemite
Falls a little to the. left and within
half a mile of us. The roar and rush
of the water at times sounds like the
roar of a cannon and again like that
of distant thunder. The Merced
River is at our feet and is restful to
look upon.
Sabbath Recreation.
We now find that Sunday morning
is here, and we have half a day's rest.
In the afternoon we drive down the
valley to Cascade Falls, the round trip
being a distance of seventeen miles,
and found the trip well worth taking.
A gentleman told me that he had
gathered forty different varieties of
Mowers while en route to the valley.
The water is soft, cold and delicious.
As we came back we crossed the river
and reached Bridal Veil Falls in time
to see three distinct rainbows in the
mist as the sun was sinking behind
the hills and the shadows were fall
ing.
From Mirror Lake over the Trail.
We reached the hotel about 6
o'clock, had- a fine dinner, enjoyed the
moonlight evening and retired so as
to start early next morning for Mir
ror Lake, which we did, reaching
there in time to see those towering
mountains reflected perfectly in the
water— a sight never to be forgotten.
Saw the sun rise twice the same
morning. There were probably seven
ty-five people present and kodaks
were numerous.
From here we drove for the trail to
Glacier Point. The ladies secured di
vided skirts and with eight mules and
two horses in our party and an able
guide, we began to climb once more.
The trail is eleven miles long and we
were six hours making the distance,
with very little stop. First, we were
at the foot of the Nevada Falls, then
at the top, where we crossed the Mer
ced River on a bridge. These falls
drop a distance of 900 feet straight
down. Can the scene be described?
No. It must be seen to be appreciated.
On this mountain trail we reached
a height of over 7000 feet. Not far
away the summit of the Sierra Ne
vadas reach a height of from 10,000 to
12,000 feet and their peaks are covered
with snow that glistened in the sun
light like great balls of crystal.
A Charming View.
At 2 o'clock we reached Glacier
Point. Dinner was ready and we were
ready for dinner. Then we started
for the overhanging rock. Well, just
draw the curtain of thought about you
and try to imagine what words are all
too poor to express. Only two of our
party— Jack Chaffey and Miss Rose
Edmonds — had the courage to venture
on the rock. Men and women— all
save one — protested, begged them
not to go, but they stepped quietly
forth and in an instant the kodaks
were leveled and snapped and they
returned safely to the ledge. As we
stood on the brink of the cliff with a
solid iron railing in front, I heard
men who were strong and staunch
and used to mountain life, say their
knees quaked beneath them and a
feeling of faintness drove them back
till the valley was lost to view.
Three thousand three hundred feet
straight down will try the nerve of the
best of men. That is what it is at
Glacier Point.
As we look into the valley the river
seems no larger than a thread of sil
ver. Trees that stand 100 to 150 feet
in height seem like underbrush, and
the Sentinel hotel not much more
than a dot, so great is the distance.
The sun has long since gone to rest.
The twilight shadows have been
chased away by the silvery light of
the moon, and as this was our last
night in the valley we stole softly out
for one more glance. Such peace, such
quiet, save for the distant rumblings
of the water of the cataracts. As we
stood dumb before this mighty spec
tacle our thoughts went out to the
great God who formed and created all
things In and of Himself, and we felt
our littleness, our weakness and a
strong desire to come still nearer the
source of all true greatness,.
Reluctantly we quitted the spot, re
luctantly we lowered the curtain at
