Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1877-08-02
MORNING APPEAL.
YOSEMITE.

In our recent trip to Yosemite Valley, Sec
retary Miner and myself found no little diff
culty in obtaining exact and reliable lnforma-
ton concerning routes distances, grades, ETC.
The information vouchsafed was generally of
the croaking sort, and spoke mainly of irnpas-
szble mountains, unfordable streams, huge
boulders and snakes that rattle at one end,
and bite at the other. Like the Trojan wan
derers, having suffered ourselves, we learn to
feel for others, and / now see how to impart
some few grains of personal knowledge, and
reGable hearsay, about the road to Yosemite.
First Of all the trip is entirely practicable,
and comparatively easy for the ordinary
camper" or the lighter travelling & tourist. ="
Across the Sierra, you have the choice of four
routes, all converging at Sonora, 20 miles
from the Valley. OF these routes the most
northern is via the old overland stage road to
Placerville, thence through Latrobe, Mokel-
umne Hill, jackson, San Andreas, Angels
and Valecito This is the smoothest road,
and has the easiest grades, the distance, how
ever, is greatest of ALL being fully 300 miles.
This distance may be shortened ten miles be-
tween Placerville and Jackson, but the road
is much more hilly. Next comes the Amador
route, passing through Woodford's to Hope
Valley, and interesting the Placervllle route
at Jackson. This road is less used than either
of the others, but is reported as being in fair
condition. The total distance Is 22O miles.
The third route is by Silver Mountain, Gala
veras big trees and Murphys striking the
above mentioned routes at Faleclto. This Is
the shortest route of all, and should be chosen
from ~ oil
The Silver Mountain grade is steep, and for
q few miles has plenty of stones, but it is
easily passab1e for ordinary vehicles. The
distance to Big Trees is 100 miles, and from
Big Trees to Yosemite 100 miles. These big
trees are the most notable on the coast, and
the only ones with hotel accommodations.
The southern route is by Wellingtons and
Bridgeport to Sonora, through the Mono Pass.
The total distance is 240 miles, and the road
is said to be good one. Arriving at Sonora
by either of the above routes, we pass on
through Jacksonville, Big Oak Flat, Garrote
and Crane Flat to Yosemite. Do mt go by
Chinese Camp, but directly from Sonora to
Jacksonville. In returning, it is best to come
out by the Coulterville grade passing Cascade
Falls, Hazel Green, and Bowers Cave. At
Dudley's turn to the right and strike the Oak
Flat grade at Sprague's ranch, thence to So
nora There is very little difference in dis
lance in these two roads, and the variety is
pleasant. Ii you pass Valecito in your trip,
inquire for the natural bridges. A visit to
them will pay if your legs are first class. As
to the expense of the trip ''let every man be
persuaded in his own mind" and even then it |
is we'll to have some capitalist along from
whom to borrow. The charges either along |
the road or in the Valley are not, however,
e1horbitant The toll for the round trip will !
amount to about S25 for team of two horses |
Our average daily drive with full camping |
outfit was 25 miles. So much in the way of |
dry-as-dust, guide-post information. My
impressions of the wonderful trees, and of |
the still more wonderful Valley, reserve for
some future occasion, content now with merely |
adding that the Yosemite trip pays. H.