Evening star., 1869-09-10
WASHINGTON TO THE PACIFIC.
THE YO semitic.
Editorial Correspondence Of The S.ar.l
Yo SRMITR VALLEY,

Sierra, here over seventy miles wide The
valley has been lIkened 10 a gigantic u shaped
trough followed in the mountains, nearly a.
right angles to their regular direction. L. is
about ten miles in length, and from one quarter
ola mile 10 three miles in width, and is sunk
nearly mile IN depth beiow the general level
OF the adjacent country. The Indians who
formerly used Il as a retreat might we'll deem it
inacces ssible. There is no entrance, or exit, to
or from il by the mounted traveller, except by
one Of the two trails; the Nariposa, and the Big
Oak Flat which Zig-Zsg down the mountains
on opposite sides OF the valley. Everything
brought 10 the valley, or taken from 1t, must
be conveyed on pack-animals. And the bottom
of this valley, sunk a mile below the surface
is yet about 1000 feet above the sea.level.
The theory OF the biologists is thst the bottom
OF this valley dropped through" in some con-
yulsion OF nature-some movement of the
earth's crust. In no other way can its peculiar
shape be accouI ted tor. II is too wide TO have
been formed by fissure; being about As wide
as II IS deep and there is no correspondence
between the outlines of the TWO sides. It's
supposed, therefore, that there was a subsistence
here during the process OF the upheaval Of the
Sierra, whereby this valley sunk down to an
unknown depth, and was the bed OF a wonder
fully wild and picturesque lake, until in the
course of years the abyss has been filled up by
the growth of vegetable matter, the washing in
OF sand and gravel, and the falling of masses
OF rock from the tremendous cliffs bordering
upon II.
This theory also accounts for the fact that
there is so little debris at the base OF the Cliffs
and in the valley generally, it having been
absorbed in this abyss. There are many curl
Gus feaures about this valley surface, and some
of the valley men believe that a su bterranean
lake still exists herein other words that the
valley surface is floating CO yer OF peaty SUBJ
stance surmounted by sandy loan. They tell
wonderful stories OF the tremulous nature
OF the ground, accounting thereby for the
noted scariness OF the Merced river trout who
get warning OF the approaching fisherman from
his lightest football. The light tramp OF the
mustang horses, used by tourists, is heard a.
an unusual distance in the valley; the water in
the meadows at distance from the Merced
sympathises with the river in rise and fall. Ac
&c, all sustaining the theory, il is maintained
that the floor Of the valley has a water founda.
ton.
II is believed that Lake Tahoe and the valley
1t partly occupies is the result OF a similar
subsistence TO tnat of the Yo Semitic Valley,
and that that lake, though yet very deep
over LOCO feet-has been vastly deeper, and
which, continuing 10 fall, must in the course
OF time fill 1t up to level with It's outlet, as in
the case OF this valley.
do not propose TO catalogue the wonders
II the Yo SemIte Valley, but 10 lot down
some notes that may be new TO the readers
OF the STAB, serviceable to any of them
proposing TO take the trip.
How to See the Valley.
II the traveller is unused TO horseback riding
he Will probably be glad to ..Ioaf about in
the valley the first day after his twenty
hve miles ride here. Let him get some
bait from Indian Jim, and fish
little IN the transparent Merced He
won't catch anything, for the idiouc fish
called trout here have no more bite TO them
than so many suckers, but he can stretch him.
sell IN torpid gorgeousness on the banks of the
beautiful river, and watch the white rockets
of the 70 Semitic Fall tumbling down 3. co.. feet
above. his head, and lay In memories to last
him lifetime of these wonderful mile-hlgh
walls Of granite, with their changing lights
and shadows. Walt Whitman himself could
not desire more sublime Z" "loafing place"
Another year it will be different. Then there
VIII be turnpike road 70 the very brink OF
the Nslley, and the fashionables will be hers
here with their Saratoga trunks; then good .bye
TO the peculiar features OF Yo Semitic, its So
iemnity aIl Silence. The traveller who enters
the valley st twilight-as is the case by the
present diffic ult modes OF ingress-and pauses
under Ell Captain, that enormous block OF
granite, rising 1880 feet perpendicular, and
looking miles high in the shadows of evening
feels that any talk just then and there would
be fippant indeed; and the women who have
the courage and fibre TO enter the valley by the
present rough paths are sensible women who
can keep their mouths shut when IN the pres
ence Of these grand solemnities; but Just fancy
the fashionable tribe, with the chignons. Hut
tering about the valley, murmurlng "How
Pretty :" "Be-u-ti-ful!' &c, before these tow
ering masses OF eternal granite! Notv is the
time 10 visit the Yo Semitic, before the road is
made smooth enough Tor the Saratoga trunks
and their owners In the afternoon
of the first day one should ride
down the valley from Hutchings, and
see the FL Captain get into shadow. In
The sunlight that sublime mass OF rock does
not show 10 Its full height; and the same may
be said OF all these majestic cliffs, but the shad.
ows come earlier in the day on the opposite
side OF the Valley. The cold gray OF these
granite mountains, though coming out brilliant
ly In the sunlight is relieved so little by the
thin atmosphere that they do not loom up with
anything like the gigantic effect at noon-day
thatthey do in the morning and evening shad-
ows. And Just here l want TO brand as a mis-
erable fraud the Bierstadt picture Of the Yo Se-
mite, and also the fellow picture OF the same by
Hill, who seems trying hard to ape Bierstadt's
scenic clap-trap. Whitney, the Geologist, has
Justly characterized the paintings Of the Yo Sc.
mite, representing a rich golden haze as per.
vading, and giving its hue to everything in the
Valley, as simply and entirely untrue to na.
ture." Kellogg ought to try his hand at the
Yo Semitic. His Mount Sinai" shows that he
can paint mountains both effectively and with
fidelity.
At night, If the visitor is rery enthusiastic on
the matter Of trout-nshing, he can stand fair
chance ofsuccess by getting Mr.. Hutching's to
pilot him to some Of the .likely places for
trout'' in the deeper pools Of the Merced below
the fish, placed on the margin Of the stream, the
hook can be thrown in with some prospect Of
results. We caught very good string here in
an hours time one night; but am not going TO
be so spoonily magnanImous as to say who |
caught the pound d-and.a- half fellow. IL any
body has a certificate from Hutching's in the
matter let him produce the document!
The next morning the correct thing is to rise
early and take gallop up the valley 70 ''Mirror
Lake, no guides needed. The point is to get
up there before the wind rises TO rufiie the SUI.
face Of the lake and spoil the shadows Of the
over. hanging mountains. The reflection is
pretty good article In the shadow line, but
hadoyvs ara .e conn mon in tAe clear Watars NJ