The Nevada Democrat., 1858-09-29
NEVADA CALIFORNIA WEDNESDAY MORNING. SEPTEMBER 49, 1883
A Trip TO the Eastern Slope OF the Sierra
Nevndas.

- NA@E " NAA~ 1NatoNH SAOto - "AA~ S~~A@e~
Nevadas.
A correspondent furnishes to the Mariposa
Gazette, very interesting account of trip to
the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevadas The
writer is one of the party organized to explore
for gold:
Each of us equipped with rife, revolver,
sheath-knife, riding and packing anmels, left
the quiet little town Of Big Oak Flat aud Ga
rote, on the 18th of July, for our destination,
by the way of Yo Semitic Valley, Lake Te-nye-
ah aud Mono Pass.
The country passed over by us to Yo Semitic
Valley, is too well known, to require even
passing notice so what / shall write, may be
considered as commencing at Yo Semitic Valley.
Spending few days viewing that magnificent
wonder, we assembled the Couterville trail to
the top of the ridge on the northern side of the
valley. From the summit OF the ridge opposite
the lower end of the valley to Lake Te-nye-ah,
10 about thirty-two miles. Along the route we
crossed several small streams, pouring their
waters into the valley among them the Yo
Semitic Greek, forming 70 Semitic Falls, is the
largest. On these streams are numerous small
valleys, afordng splelaid vegetation Of vari-
GUS kinds, aud the country in general is well
timbered with Piue, Spruce and Fir. Along
this portion of the route game was not veiy
plentiful, but by exertion and dexterity, we
managed to kill enough to supply our wants.
The country is not so rough to travel over as
Indicated by viewing II from en- elevated point
in the neighborhood. The gradual descending
streams. and long narrow valleys, renders the
route very passable for pack animals.
1t was our intention to strike the Indian trail
leading from Yo Semitic Valley to Mono Pass,
somewhere near the upper end Of the valley,
but did not intersect Il until we had reached
the valley of Lake Te-nye-ah. Arriving at the
Lake, we encamped with the determination of
exploring 1t thoroughly, inasmuch as great
doubt has been entertained heretofore, us to
its real exsteuce; SO while some of the patty
went ahead to explore, the remaining portion
set to work constructing q raft which we bound
together with pack ropes
On the return of the exploring squad, gen
eral rafting excursion took place. We 1oated
out on the bosom of one of the most clear linn
pid aud delightful sheets water, in the country
Assisted by wave and paddle, we succeeded in
making detOur Of the lake, which is about two
miles in length, and three quarters of a mile ia
width. 1t is situated on the head waters of the
stream emptying into the upper part of Yo Sem
ite Valley, and there forming what | believe is
called Lake Francis. By the Indian trail from
the valley, the lake is about sixteen miles to
the eastward. The waters after leaving the
beach, l should Judge from every appearance
TO be several hundred feet in depth Around
the lake is a beautiful sandy shore or beach. In
its waters sport 10 living animal, that weconld
discover, except a species of very small bug.
Upon its bosom ioated no fowls-near its shore
roamed no beast of the forrest. It's situation is
most magnificent spot-its sides are bound in
granite--its ends in valleys. During the explo-
rations in the vicinity, several lakes we're dis
covered. but none OF them in beauty and mag
nitude can bear comparison with Te.nye-ah.
Having satisfied ourselves with the beauties
OF Tc-nye-ah, we hnrnessed pack and saddle,
and left for Mono Pass-distance 19 miles.
We entered the water and kept near the
granite cliffs on the northern side for oneh half
mile; the trail taking over the smooth surface
Of rocks our animals could not pass over it.
We found no difficulty however, in passing the
lake in this manner.
From the lake to the crossing of the east or
main branch Of the Tuolumne river, we tray
ersed a succession Of gradual ascending valleys
densely covered with species of pine closely
resembling the tamarack. The river at this
point of our intersection, winds its way through
q beautiful valley from five to six miles in
length, and about two miles in breadth. Hav-
ing the high snow-clad peaks Of the Sierras up
on each side, its position Is grand and beauti-
full. Leaving behind us this lovely view. we
ascended to Mono Pass, which scarce deserves
the name, for really il is not "pass," but the
summit OF the main back bone Of the Sierras
Vegetation does not exist TO any extent upon
the main ridge. The wind blows cold and icy
they make one shudder-they feel like the
dead of winter. From the summit we plainly
saw Mono Lake spreading itself on the plain
below.