The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-02-20
"My Trip to the Yosemite"

"My Trip to the Yosemite"
Mr.. Editor:-W Within the confines of the
Pacific States, nestled among the rugged
mountains of the Sierra Nevada range, lies
a beautiful little valley which but a few
years since was known only to the red man,
and 1t was venturesome traveller who
would have thought to scale the rocky
nights which enclosed it, For centuries
the blue skies smiled down on its beauties,
storms beat against it's solemn rocky walls,
unchanged and interchangeable by the fury
of the elements, whose fierce power twisted
the tall pine-trees and tore the clinging
roots from their support. In summer the
little valley put on its gayest robes and
shone respondent in diamond sprays of
waterfalls and brilliant flowers; but the
flowers bloomed unheeded, the smooth lake
calmly reflected in its CLASSY surface the
clear sky and the vast rocks towering above
the graceful foliage at their feet, unseen
save by the dusky forester, who in his wild
hunt may have forced his way into its pre-
cincts. One day whisper crept out of all
this grandeur and loneliness, and men in
eager search overcame all difficulties to
gaze entranCed on the wonderful formation.
1t is said that the first authentic reports
of this region were obtained from party
of white men who, pursued by hostile In
dians, came suddenly upon the valley,
which was called Yosemite" meaning
" Grizzly Bear" the name of a small tribe of
Indians living near. Since then a road
has been built along the steep mountain
side, winding down into the valley, where
the sun now looks down ON tourist and ar
list and the rocks echo the voices of merry
campers who pass the short summer months
there enjoying the pure air, mountain water
and the restful quiet of the vast calm rocks.
Teaching they have for our too restless lives,
X. "A
That softest sun, nor storm that maddest drives,
We, too, might breathe some holy even,tide,
With hearts wide open, that divine delight
To our incessant longing now denied"
1t was my good fortune to belong to one
OF those camping parties last summer, and,
powerless as my words must be to describe
it all, | can only hope that a short story of
camp-life in California may prove interest
ing to my friends, your readers. The ladies
of our party left Oakland by rail ON the
evening of June 3Oth, and arrived at Ma
dera at three o'clock the next morning.
Our tent was already pitched on
the dry sand near a bridge under which
flowed a small stream of water, which the
burning heat of summer must nearly dry
up. 1t called to mind the sparkling streams
of New England. But it was only when
the sun appeared that we realized the
dreadlully scorching heat that turns all
foliage to dull brown and makes the gilt
tering sand burn with such intense bright
ness. We were in that part of the state
which was but little else than a desert till
some enterprsing Californians bethought
themselves of scheme that should make
this desert " blossom as the rose" and truly
they succeeded, for wherever the rrigating
canals are carried is seen beautiful verdure
and freshness in strange contrast with the
surrounding country. The soil has proved
TO be everything that could be desired when
supplied with the needed water, and farm
houses dot the plain here and there, each
surrounded by its patch of green, marking
the enterprise of some stirring farmer, who
is amply repaid for the toll and hardship he
has undergone by his abundant crops OF
grain and fruit. We began our journey
that afternoon, after waiting six hours foI
the train. BY a rapidly descending
road we reached the Wawona hotel. Daily
stages leave this place for Yosemite, and
through the summer the hotel is crowded
with tourists. Here we saw an Indian
dance-not war dance, but one gotten W
TO crafty the curiosity of travellers. There
was no paint or feathers, and they were as
ugly, uninteresting specimens of humanity
as | care to look upon. They live chiefly
upon what is given them by travellers anC
what can be stolen. There was yet another
mountain to climb, and we left Wawona il
the morning.
The next day at two o'clock p. NJ. we
came to Inspiration Point and obtained the
first view of the valley, considered by many
the finest view. We had been told that WE
were near it, and as we passed round the
curve that hides il from view a solemn, eX
peCtant hush came over the entire party
one moment more and the Ell Captain, In
vast and solemn grandeur, rose up before
us; beyond il the Domes, with Clouds Resi-
in the distance. To the right fell the waters
of the Bridal Veil, in a sheet of silver spray
blown hither and thither by the breeze
causing that resemblance to a veil which
IL Eiftnan hnnHra1 f4a ha
low us lay the green and smiling valley
ike an emerald in its rocky setting. The
FL Captain is one vast block of granite
thrust forward into the valley, having two
vertical faces, at nearly right angles. TIL,
upper point of the angle is $500 feet above
the valley floor. We gazed till " the scene
still present to the bodily sense vanished
from thought, yet, like some sweet beguil
ing melody-so sweet we know not we wer,
lstening-blended with thought. Yea, will
life and LIES own secret joy, till the di
lating soul enwrapt, transfused into tn,
mighty vision passing there, as in her natu
raj form, swelled vast to heaven" Long ant
silently we stood until some innocent re
mark from the children brought us to earth
and we realized that we must begin our de
scent into the valley ere darkness CLOSED
round us.
The road winds down the mountain, turn
ing sharp curves, giving continually-chang
ing views as we descend. We followed tn
course of the MERGED river, passed the few
dwellngs-a large hotel, cottages for rent
photographers rooms and small stor
where souvenirs and other objects of inter
est can be seen, and bought, II the purse ad
mits One chess-table of eXqusitely- polished
native woods was priced at 500. There wer
other pretty little articles of wood and tn
bark of the "big trees" There was also
small chapel where services were held eacl
Sabbath. Having gone through with tn
necessary preliminaries at the Office of tn
" guardian of the valley" (as the man VIII
is employed to have a general oversight o