Weekly Trinity journal., 1871-06-10
A TRIP TO YOsEIIITE.

CARLIx, New, May lG, 1871.
! DEAR FRIEND Craig Thinking YOU nigh NJ
some time tdl short of copy, am going To send
you few !tnes which perhaps you may use 10
advantage. | have, since | left Weaver, been
constantly on the move, aud have enjoyed every
moment of my time. But | wish to write more
particularly Of my trip TO Yosemite. Though II
trip to Santa Cruz, or 10 the Geysers ia certainly
very enjoyable, it cannot for moment be
thought of in comparison with that never-to- be-
forgotten pleasure--a journey to Yosemite, nj
this season of the year especially. BY NIL means
the tourist should 60 in the SPRING. should
say May, unless the season is very backward
The route by Big Trees was not fully open for
travel, yet with sight delay we made the trip
with comfort.
At the time write, however, the route ia fully
organized, with ample accommodations and very
agreeable drverr. | would certainly advise all
to 60 by way of Stockton aud Copprropolis II r
to Milton. Thence to Murphy'S and Big Trees
in one day and to Yosemite in two more, re-
turning by direct route Fare from Stockton
and back, $43 co. Our party broke the short
trail being the first by that route. We walked
perhaps quarter of mile through the snow,
not because it was necessary, but to ease our
horses, which had not been sadded since last
Fall. Coming out, however, the trail was very
easy. We rode in the saddle twenty-one or
tweny-three miles as you choose to call it,
every one in this section seems to carry their
g disf,n a 1
be reduced to eleven miles. Most of our party
though unused 10 the saddle, rode, in addition
to the two days ride in and out two days in the
valley without unusual fatigue or annoyance
Our ride in was through clouds 80 dense MS TO
drench US to the skin were we not prepared in
advance for it, as we started in a rain. But the
next four days were unusually clear and pleas
ant.
The evening of my arrival visited the lower
Yosemite Fall, 10 rest myself. The next day,
with a companion, climbed to The top Of Lib.
erry Cap, distant from IIulchius six miles
The height is called 1900 feet above valley. !
think this and estimated height Of So Dome
1000 feet-are somewhat over estimated, but
its high enough for the first days climb. We
passed Vernal Fall by trail very steep and mar
row, in many places barely wide enough for
foothod. We were afterwards told that this
trail had been condemned as the ladders at the
head of vernal Fall were unsafe. We did not
know at the time that trail for horses had been
constructed far above us, and much longer
We passed close under the fall, wet to the skin
by the spray which almost blinded US. Finally
was obliged TO rest for want Of breath
Crouching under the lee of rock turned to
look for my companion. To my delight and sur
prise saw the most beautiful rainbow | ever
witnessed, complete circle OF perhaps one hun
dred feet diameter Ny companion, as | turned
to look for him. was just thrusting his head
through tue halo which rested on his right shoul-
der. 1t was "A sight never to be forgotten. As
we advanced up the hill, the circle would seem
to recede, each step upward seeming to be ex-
aetly over the ring OF beauty, ill AZ last we
passed out of the spray. The upward journey
occupied four hours, nearly all of steady, hard