News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1891-08-06
ADVERTISING RATES.
Journal OF a Trip to Yosemite.
CONTINUED From Last Week !

Journal of Trip to Yosemite.
CONTINUED From Last Week.
About the time townspeople were lis
tening to sermons from the pulpits
we halted for lunch at Goat ranch,
where the swaying pines, the ripping
brook and the songs of the birds
made sweeter music than / have lis
tened to for many days. From this
place to Hazel Green and on to the
big trees" where we camped. the
scenery beggars description, and /
will not detract from your imaginn-
ton by attempting TO write aboHt IL.
Some of the sugar and yellowpines,
more than six feet in diameter and
correspondingly high, were to be seen
on all sides consequently when we
reached the big trees they failed to
impress us with their magnitude ON
first approach. The general appear
ance is different from other pine, the
bark is light and fiber extends up TO
the top, while sugar and yellow
pines look as if the bark was creased
into irregular blocks; furthermore
the burrs of the Sequoi Gigantia are
the smallest. (Few burrs from one
of the largest giants / to-day mail
you, but as the burrs from the sugar
and yellow are fully s inches in diam
eter and from II TO Is inches long
will wait till you visit me befor show
ing them.) BY going up and walk
ing around the monarchs of the for
est one is astonished at the harmon
ious symmetry of their proportions.
The Indians have a saying that "the
other trees grow, but,the Great Spirit
created the sequoias out of his hand"
No one cans gaze longat the monarchs
without feeling the awe inspiring evil
dence OF the Creators work and it
seems the Indians opinion is a SEN
sible one. Near our camp was one
that must have fallen fully one hun
dred years ago and yet the top
branches shove ! green sprays. 1t is
wonderful that the side and center Of
many trees have been burned out as
far up as one can see and vet the
branches are green and the tree still
lives. 1t is also surprising what short
roots the giants have. IL was with
reluctance we left the charming spot
at six Monday morning but our
driver assured us the sights of the day
would surpass Sundays scenes. The
air was so refreshing and the fragrance
of pines more delightful than the
choicest perfume. Hight of altitude
near Hazel Green 6000 feet.
AS we had but eleven miles to make
ere reaching the valley, and most of
the way down hill, We drove leisurly
along, getting out to pick mountain
flowers and drink from the clear rip
pling brooks thatca dashing down
at almost every turn. The toll road
ends at big meadows three miles from
the Cascades at the entrance to the
valley. Much of the way since leav-
ing Granite Springs the road has
been built along the side of the noun
tain and the turns so short that n
careless driver would be entirely out
of place, for in many places the road
| is barely wide enough for the wagon.
| At Big Meadows the drivers always
see that the brakes are all right. for
| after nenrly two miles OF down grade
we came to the steepest most danger
GUS and yet the most fascinating part
of the journey. As we wind around
the hill about one mile from the base
we first see the entrance to the won
derland of California.
The mighty mountains of solid rock
rise perpendicular up from the roar
ing, foaming Mercede at our right, and
hundreds of feet below and on our
left rocks and boulders towering
above seems readyat any moment to
dash down upon us. The road is
hard and smooth and If the brakes
do their:part all is well, and by cling
ing to the wagon and having conf
dence in the driver one can enjoy the
grandest and yet the most awe in
spring sight it has ever been my
pleasure to witness. But woe TO the
driver and oil should the brakes give
way; no human power could avert
their doom. Doubtless one would die
of fright ere reaching the mighty wa
ters below, dashing their white spray
in magnificent grandeur against
and over the rocks. At the foot Of
the hill flows a clear cool river which
to our left dashes over rocks forming
a cascade about 900 feet high. There
are two places to ford theriver, anda
stranger is apt to take thesmoothest
which in the early part of the season
is so deep and the current so swift
that crossing is impossible, so our
careful driver bore to the left and we
were soon in the water nearly to the
hubs. The road here is covered with
stones varying in size from a robins
egg to water-pail, for several rods,
the coolcrystal river flows over, which
in early spring just after n heavy rain
and few hot days makes it next to
impossible toget into the valley. Our
attention was wholly given to cling
ING to the wagon; but when once
through the river and out on a fat
spot to lunch we could gaze and ad-
mire. 80, says one, "the grandeur
of Yosemitel" But our driver in
formed us we had not yet entered the
valley proper, though for the last two
days we had been in the National
Park. Having already taken more
space than | fear is freely given, will
write you later of the valley itself
Do not become weary anticipating n
longer letter, for there is only nine
miles of wonderful objects to mention
while n brief sketch of our journey
thus far covers 124 miles.
Hoping | have not wearied the Ed
itor so that he will decline to let me
finish my journal, / remain sincerely,
NJ. A. THOMPSON.
Stockton. Cal.
|
| xIo,., a. rr-oa& c,.naRroLo