Columbia gazette and the southern mines advertiser. [volume] (Columbia, Tuolumne County, Calif.) 1855-1858, 1858-05-27
Trip to the Yosemite Valley
The Falls-DiscOvery OF another Mann.
moth Grove-Outfit, &c.

The Falls-Discovery Of another Mann
moth Grove-Outfit, sc.
EDITOR BULLETIN Having just re-
turned from trip to that wonder of ma
ture, the Yosemite Fall, I think des-
cription of the route to the Valley may
be Of service to those who wish to avail
themselves of this delightful journey.
You leave San Francisco at 4 P. NJ,
on the Stockton steamer. Leave Stocks
ton next morning at for Coulterville-
fare $ll. You reach Coulterville at 9
P. NJ, On the same day. At this place
you can procure horses at So per day.
Leave Coulterville as early the next
morning (third day. as convenient, and
a ride of ten miles will bring you to
Marble Spring Cave. There you de-
-scend, under moutain some sixty feet,
to lake Of pure, living water, under
arches of solid rock. You can spend a
short time at this place, and reach the
head of Bulls creek the same night for
encampment, where you will find plen-
ty of good grass and water This place
is twenty FIVE miles from Coul,erville.
A ride of twenty FIVE miles on the
next day (the tourthl will bring you to
the famous Valley of Yosemite. Then
proceed four miles up the MERGED river,
where you will find your second camp
ing ground, in the midst OF perpendicu-
lar granite rocks, four thousand feet in
height, and water falls too magnificent
for description. The two following
days (ffth and sixth can be spent in
wonder and amazement. by proceeding
FIVE miles father-to the head Of the
yailey-where the Mercod river enters
it over precipice, too grand for words
or pen to attempt to picture. Here
you pause in wonder, and praise your
Maker for his grand works, and consid-
er that all the nations of the earth,
should they work for centuries, could
not undo what Gcd may have done IL
one day.
On your return, you should leave the
Valley by the break Of day, and ride
fifteen miles to Cranes Flat. By leav-
ing the trial for one mile, you can visit
a grove Of "Big Trees"-one Of which,
| think, has never before been discover
ed, at least not to the knowledge of any
inhabitant Of that region. These huge
monuments Of Nature were first seen on
the 10th of this month by party Of
gentlemen Oh their way to the Falls
The patty was composed Of Jas. e
Cogswell, R. G Coffin and seven 9TH
ers. These trees are in Tuolumne
county, due north from the trail as you
pass over Cranes Flat, You ascend
the bill from the head Of the Flat, and
pass down on the opposite side about
one-fouith of mile, keeping the chap
arreil to the left, when you will End a
cluster Of ten trees, each measuring
from sixteen to thirty-six feet in diana
tel. The largest one has been so de-
vastated by time and fire, that you can
pass directly through its centre. Two
Of these trees-which we named Tie
Twins for beauty and symmetry can
not be surpassed. They are perfect to
a fault, and tower alo(t at least $50 feet
some say 500 feet. To the height
Of 10 feet they are joined together !;
above that height, they are two perfect
trees. The circumference of their uni
ted trunks measures 9S feet. A view
of these monsters of the forest-at a
short distance from the south of the hill
is the most perfect and glorious sight
tat l ever beheld in natures growth.
"Tuolumne" can now say to CaIaveras,
mighty are your works Calaveras-but
more mighty are mine
For this mountain trip each gentle
man should provide himself with stout
boots, gloves, monkey jacket, grey over
shirt, kossuth hat, four good blankets,
and tin dipper. Ladies should have
thick boots, gloves, sun bonnet, brown
llnncn riding habit, four blankets, and
suit OF boomer of merino When thew
reach the summit Of the hill they should
dotf their habit, ere descending into the
valley. By following theses directions
the trip will be pleasant, although some
what fatiguing. You should RIG out in
the above costume at Coultcrville. At
ter leaving that place, Mother Earth
will be your bed and the Heavens your
canopy but the air is SO pure and so
rari6ed, that you feel no bad. effects
from such lodgings. With provisions
you can suit your own fancy. and can
procure them at Coulterville.
Before closing, would recommend
to you Mr.. Coulter, as kind, oblig-
ing host. Mr.. Smith will provide you
with good horses. Mr.. Wilson, prince