Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-04-27
TRAVEL TO THE YOSEMITE VALLEY.

Although the regular stages from MADEIRA
| to the Yosemite valley will not commence
running until on or about May LIST, great
numbers of Eastern and English tourists are
already on the road to that famous spot in
private conveyance and on horseback. A
party of nineteen gentlemen who arrived on
the last Australian steamer, and who are
making the tour of the world, started next
day for MADEIRA, where they chartered two
stages to take them into the valley, and the
names of eighty-one gentlemen and ladies
are now booked for the first regular trips on
May 1st and I'd. One of the reasons for this
great excitement arises from the fact that the
SHOWS upon the Sierra are deeper than ever
before known at this season of the year, and
that the warm weather that win at once set
in will produce sights in the wonderful
Yosemite that will eclipse all former ones
since our acquaintance of California. 1t
is reported that already the Bridal Veil, the
Nevada, Ribbon and the Yosemite, with its
2, 600 feet of falls, are increasing their volume
daily and that they will probably prolong
their matchless exhibitions well into June, so
deep and packed is the snow ON the mountain
tops which forms the water sheds of the Mer-
ced river.
The new MADEIRA Fresno Mariposa" route
to the Yosemite is now as complete, COM
Portable and quick as it can be made. The
opening of this new route diminishes the dis
lance, shortens the time, lessons the expense,
and subjects the tourist to fewer Interrupt
lions and discomforts than any other route
has ever offered or can offer from San Fran
cisco to the Big Trees and Yosemite Valley
The distances by the new route are as follows:
San Francisco to Lathrop, "a miles; Lathrpp
to MADEIRA 81 MADEIRA to Fresno Flats, A !;
Fresno Flats to Clark's, 22 Clark's to 4o-
semitic, "A. Railroad, 1S5 stage, 80; total,
275 miles. During the tourist season Sleep
ing cars viii be run daily between San Fran
cisco and MADEIRA, especially for the accom-
mediation of visitors to the Yosemite Valley.
The upper Mariposa grove is a. compact
body containing just 365 of the sequoia gil
gantea. The average size of the trees is
greater than that of those of Calaveras, and
the hight little less. There are 125 trees
over 40 feet in circumference. The lower
grove contains about half as many trees as
the upper, making total of $50 in the two
groves. The Grizzly Giant is the largest and
measures 92l feet in circumference at the
ground. The Fresno grove OF big trees has
not heretofore been accessible to the tourist,
and will therefore form AN interesting and
attractive feature on this new route. Like
4'Aoiipoe6 SioNc, IL 10 uiNlucQ Two
groves, usually called the upper and lower,
about one mile apart and covering mile
square each. Together they contain from 800
to 800 trees of the sequoia gigantea of all Sizes
One of the upper grove measures So feet in
circumference 6 feet from the ground. In the
lower grove there is one that is 80 feet in cir
conference 3 feet from the ground-round
and symmetrical and entirely free from the
blemishes that mar the beauty of very many
otherwise handsome and imposing trees.
That great care was bestowed upon the To-
cation and construction of the road between
Clarks Station and the valley is evident to
the most casual observer, both as regards
alignment and grades, which are such as to
entitle it to maintain the well deserved repu-
tation that it now enjoys of being in every
respect the best and most desirable route into
the valley. From Inspiration Point down
to the valley the road occupies the most ia
vorable ground that the very PERCEPTIONS ma
ture of the mountains sides will permit
The ease, speed and perfect comfort with
which the descent is made over this portion
of the road, coupled with the grand and awe
inspiring sublimity of the scenery on all
sides, render it by far the most enjoyable part
of the ride from Clark's to the valley 1t
was from the bold promontory on this route
NOW known as Inspiration Point that the
Yosemite was first seen in 1851 by those in
pursuit of the Indians. 1t is the finest scenic
standpoint for general view of the valley,
and was the one selected by Hill, Bierstadt,
Bradford and other eminent artists.