Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1898-09-22
The Wonders Of Yosemite /!
A Letter from Rev. Frank Mcdaniel.

walled chasm in the very heartof the
Sierra Nevada Mountains, Mariposa
county, California, about $50 miles east
of San Francisco, las the crow flies, "and
about $50 miles by the Yosemite stage
route. The valley is seven miles in
length by from half mile to mile in
width. 1t is bounded on every side by
frowning cliffs from $500 feet to 5000
feetin height. over which leap numerous
waterfalls from $50 to 1000 feet at a sim
gle bound, in forms of indescribable
grandeur and loveliness.
The vegetation of the valley is prolific,
consisting of majestic forest trees, fra
grant shrubs and beautiful flowers.
Through the valley flows the beautiful
MERGED river. The historic story is that
this marvellous gorge was once the boast
ed stronghold of hostile Indians and its
discovery was made known to the world
of sight-seeers by pursuing party of
white men in May, 1857. Immediately
this grand and wonderful valley leaped
into world wide prominence as one of the
most marvellous regions of natural seen
ery Yes, Yosemite is a strange spot and
it has been rightly said that it contra
venes, challenges, defies and overshad-
stands alone, unsurpassed in earthly
loveliness and crowned with robing OF
Illuminating glory all divine.
In our tour of the west and northwest,
visit to this famous valley to witness
some of the grandest scenes upon earth
had been anticipated with an llllmltable
pleasure. This anticipation magnitied it.
self when we arrived in the immediate
neighborhood of Yosemite. After ride
of seventeen hours from Los Angeles, we
arrived at the little town of Raymond,
where slumber of extraordinary length
prepared us for the stage drive of 40 miles
to Wawona, the first resting place. The
roads IN the valley are pretty dusty, but
an inch Of dust on your person is slight
disbursement when the object OF the
Journey is kept in view. The tempera-
ture is constantly around one hundred
degrees (the thermometer climbed up to
one hundred and six degrees in the shade
on August 22d) but it did not afford the
discomfort which temperature OF nine
ty degrees would create in Shepherds
town. After very early breakfast, we
take our place by the side of the driver
and begin the most thrilling drive in our
experience The stage is most comfort
able, accommodating twelve persons and
is drawn by four strong but withal care
full animals which are replaced by fresh
ones at stations of nine miles. The road
for the first ten miles winds in a monot-
onous way around and across low knobs
and flats until Grub GulCh is reached at
ten o'clock. This is the uneuphonlous
name of a gold-mining camp which re-
celved its name because when miners
and prospectorS of the entire district
would secure but little dust, they would
invariably return to this particular camp
and dig for their grub. SO Grub Gulch
became a provisional haven for diSap-
pointed miners. The ride down the
mountain from this place was full OF eX-
element. The road is built on bed
way of rock and places of sufficient width
for passing other vehicles are arranged
for at long distances. Should vehicles
chance to meet between these places, the
drivers are thrown upon their own re-
sources of ingenuity. 1t was our thrill
ing experience to meet large wagon in
very narrow place. The stage had the
outside track and the way in which the
rear wheels dragged over the ledge was
sufficient to produce great excitement
among the passengers. Had the driver
lost control of his animals, or had they
become frightened, or lost their f96tiiIg,
with the velocity of a pr3jectile would
that stage-coach, ard passengers have
t ha9nI. , =. down several hundred feet
into the valley below. Since, however,
neither of these thingshappened we were
strengthened for any future experiences
of the same character, several OF which
occurred during the four days we were
passenger on the coach. The entire alt
ernoon is consumed in climbing up the
Chowchilla Mountain until we reach
distance of over 5000 feet from the start
ing place of the morning. Here the road
winds through the forests primevaI
where it seems the sun has never pene
trated, and now we catch the first
glimpse of those stately pines which are
$50 to $50 feet in height. Between six
and seven, we arrive at Wawona. The
comfort of the hotel is much appreciated
after twelve hours through dust and
heat AT seven the next morning, we
continue our journey toward Yosemite.
The ascent is very steep and every mile
deepens our interest until we arrive at
Lookout Point. Here the driver pulls up
wonderful panorama from this altitude
Of 5000 feet. | will not describe that
view, perhaps some reader of the REGIS
TER will realize it at some future time.
And now, we enjoy an experience not
down in our original itinerary. For
some distance after leaving Lookout
Point, the road was literally one of fire.
A great mountain fire was raging and for
days larger force of men had been fight
ing it, We drove so close TO great pines
blazing to the height of one hundred feet
that | might have touched them. The
grass was blazing around the horses feet
and at times they rebelled against the
behests of the driver. The heat was in
tense and the smoke was dense for
number of miles. 1t was good example
of the mountain fires which once in
while destroy hundreds of thousands Of
dollars worth of timber land. The eX-
perience of that drive through fire and
smoke cannot be described and will new
er be forgotten. Near noontime, the
driver swings around sharp curve, pulls
up his horses and says Inspiration Point!
Longfellow has said Earth has built the
great watch towers of the mountains and
they lift their heads far into the sky and
gaze ever upward and around to see II
the Judge of the world comes not" One
naturally thinks of those words when he
gets his first view from Inspiration Point
From this vantage point, we got glimpse
of this wonderful and marvellous valley
Down in the valley, thousands of feet
below, the driver points out the places
of interest. To the writer, it seemed to
be literally hemmed in by walls of gran
ite, almost vertical. On all sides you
could see domes and crags, spires and
peaks. Yondef is that famous rock, I'll
Captain, with its vertical wall of $500
feet and which covers an area of over
100 acres. The longer gazed upon that
rock, the more it oppressed me with its
immensely, On the drive down the val
lev, we see the beautiful Bridal Veil Falls
on our right; Ribbon Fall on our left; the
| Cathedral Spires, the Three Brothers and
| Sentinel Rock. Space prohibits any de-
tailed attempt at the description of these