The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1876-11-22
YOSEMITE VALLEY.

90. Rnutc TheretO-EIShfs in IIIG
y.IIry-Et- Va ,.jesry and Sub
Iimfiy-EEOneNva
hound, etc.
.,..i,I correspondence of THE CLARION.
Yosemite Valley IS situated directly
,.- from san Francisco, III Mariposa
..,ty State Of G ilifornia. at the head
.r.,srs Of the Mercsd river, one Of the
,-;,garies Of the San joaquin (San
Wrrkung river 1t is two hundred
ana fftv miles from San Francisco. The
,,,ll.y consists Of a cleft or gorge in the
..-aaits peak Of the Nevada mountains,
,bont nine miles long and one mile
wide. enclosed by perpendicular cliffs
more than three thousand feet high The
valley Itself has an altitude of about four
,bon.and feet above the level of the sea.
The entrances to the valley are at the
ioUsr end where the MERGED river flows
out Of it.
The surface or floor Of the valley is
nearly level and covered with grass,
trees. and shrubbary, which with the
river. divides it by winding circuitous
cogr.s through its entire length adds
much to the beauty and grandeur Of the
place.
THE ROUTE
our party left Oakland on the over
land train at 1875, a. m, and arrived at
Stockton at noon, changing cars here
and passing across the desert we were
hurried of upon the Stockton and Cop
Metropolis road towards the foot hills, I'M
III At ha}f past one o'clock we arrived at
Milton. This is a small railway station
in Calereras county, situated upon dry
knoll. barren of shade or trees, and
numbering about dozen houses. sa-
loon, hotel, and blacksmith shop,
Tw, stages are in waiting, one for
Chinese camp, and the other for Murphy's
and the Calereras big trees. Passengers
destined for the Big Tree Grove, arrived
al MurDhy's the same time we did, and
after spending a day at the Big Trees,
Ne proceeded Oh our way to the valley
and reached there the third day at noon.
Here we were informed that TIE stage
for Yosemite had passed two hours be-
fore our arrival, but was to stop over
nieht at GaEote fifteen miles distant.
That buggy would be furnished to car
ry US Oh to Join the stage, or at our OPP
ton. As cur party would fill an entire
wagon, we could remain over night until
Friday morning, when we would be fur
nshed with an extra stage to take uS 20
IL ttsutry's at our leisure, and without
additional charge. We agreed to the
latter proposition.
Early Friday morning we were on the
road again, ascending hills, crossing
guches and rivers, passing through
many small towns Of not much impot-
tance. and dned at Sprague's Ranch.
From Sprague's to Hodgden's is fifteen
niles. and there we stayed over night
Sixteen miles from Gentrys is the
end Of the wagon road and when
the horseback riding begins. Here we
could breathe the mountain air; here we
found the frosty nights, the lofty pines,
and realized that we were in the moun-
tain tops. As we had travelled we were
abe to note our attitude by the change
upon the'trees by the roadside.
From Milton to Chinese we had found
only the black oak and small pines with
pale blush-tinted leaves. Next came the
pitch and the cedar, and then the fir,
tamarack. and thus it was evident we
had been climbing the Sierra all the day
long, and had now reached the snow belt.
Leaving Hodgden's on the morning OF
the third day, at three miles, we found
the Toulumme Big Tree Grove, thence
to Grains Flat, which last year was the
end of the stage riding We arrived at
Gentry's at 10 o'clock 4. NJ. Gentry
is a hotel at the top of the cliA Of the
Yosemite Valley.
Here we gave up our stage and mount
ed upon horseback. The stage company
furnished good saddle horses and trusty
guides Since our return good wagon
road has been completed from Gentrys,
winding down the side of the cliff into
the Valley, so that horseback riding is no
necessary.
ON HORSEBACK.
The guide selected our horses, ar
ranges the saddles, places the ladies OF
the horses selected and marshalls the
procession. Ladies must ride after the
guide that he may look to their safety
No lettering allowed All must keep
together, and we are off for the Valley
We commenced to descend three mile
down the cliff, down, down, down, yer
steep, the horses groan, the riders groan
the ladies are fearful and frightened, tn
dust rises in clouds, but finally we are al
down and az open stage wagon with tou
black slick horses attached, await us, il
which we proceed up the Valley toward
the hotel.
The nams Yosemite is Indian fos larg
grizzly bear. But we had not lost an
and It was no part of our business to hur
for any thouob our Guide said he ha