The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1894-07-06

IcOlumnaf form Is about OO 1eet
No foot has or ever will mark thci
summit, and we listen in vain 70
the chime of bells from their loft,
height. The Sentinel next attract
our attention. 1t stands on tn,
south side of the valley. Its tip j
3, ,O69 feet above the Merced river
which meanders through this valley
The side fronting the valley is near
ly perpendicular for 800 feet be
low its apex. About a half mile
southeast Of the Sentinel is Sentine
Dome which reaches the height o
4 ,160 feet above the valley. To the
left we now catch a glimpse of the
greatest falls of all-the Yosemite
a stream clear as crystal, about 81
feet wide, drops over the north wal
of this valley the amazing distance
of 1900 feet, goes cascading on a
short distance and drops to the floor
of the valley distance Of 45O feet.
The roar can be heard all over the
valley, and the windows in build.
ings within half a mile rattle con-
stantly. At times it sounds like
distant cannonading. We had the
pleasure Of gazing upon this won
der by the mellow light of the moon /,
and the picture cannot be described
Hating opposite the Sentinel We
pitched our tent for a weeks sight
seeing, and by the time the last lin
gering rays of the sun played upon
the snow-wreathed peaks of Mt.
Watkins and Clouds Rest we were
ready to retire and rest and dream
of fairy lands. The next day was
the day of rest, and we attended
services in a coy little chapel stand
ing near the Sentinel, embowered
with cedars and pines. We rested
and gazed upon the huge walls of
our surroundings until night came
on, and we were waited to dream
land by the roar Of the Falls and
the signing of the pines. Rising
with the robin and squirrel, after
breakfast we drove to Mirror Lake,
at the upper end of the valley.
This world-famed body of water is
at the base Of the vertical face of
Half Dome, short distance above
Washington Tower. Applause came
from every one as we gazed upon
the largest mirror in the world. All
the peaks, domes and trees about
this lake could be seen just as plain
ly in the water, only inverted, as
you see it above the waters. By
and by the sun neared the edge Of
the peaks, and the clouds that lin
gered near were tinged with all the
colors of the rainbow as you looked
at them thousands of fathoms below
you, but in the sky they were not.
We stood waiting and watching for
the sun to appear. AT last our ex-
pcctations were realized, rs the
golden edge Of the sun came over a
shoulder of a peak. Soon the full
Drbed sun in all its splendor seemed
70 rise a mile in the depths. This
Is surely one Of the most enchant-
ng spots man ever had the pleasure
II gazing upon. Reluctantly we
urn away and drive to camp.
With sticks in hands, and lunch
n our pockets, we start for the top
# Yosemite Falls by Eagle Peak
rail at 10:3O a. m. After a zigzagl
limb Of a thousand feet we reach
Columbia Rock, where we look out
ipon the valley below. Going on
We pass within 40 rods of the
DOT Of Upper Falls, and our
,lothes are dampened by the
'pray, while the thunderous
loisc almost browns our speech.
)n we 90, and soon snow
lakes come dancing in the air, and
" the time we reach the summit
We are in the midst Of as magnifi-
,ent a snow storm a one ever saw.
This was quite a treat, as we had
lot seen the falling snow for over
wo years, and some of our party |
lad never seen it snow. BY the
ime all had reached the top, the
un broke through the clouds and
he new fallen snow hid its face.
Ne went to the edge of the preci-
ice and looked down the plungingIl
alls. II is an awc-inspiring sight.
The rainbow plays upon the dia-
nond-dccked spray beneath, and a.
me person said, "thc water goes all
o smitherecns. Some Of US went
arther east, to Yosemite Point,
rom where we could look down up
N the meadows and groves over
600 feet below. We soon began
,ur return tramp, and reached
amp as the sun sank behind FL
captain. All were tired and foot
ore, yet very much pleased with
heir trip. The next day we rested
n the forenoon and in the afternoon