The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1904-09-12

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SAN FRANCISCO. September In
previous articles I have tried to give
the readers OF The Star some sugges-
tions Of the Impressions OF Yosemite,
Of the restful beauty OF Wawona Val
ley which has been called the gateway
TO Yosemite" and OF the charm and
wonder OF the Mariposa Grove OF Sc
quotas. which to carry out the figure
may be called the lodge by the gateway
to the House OF Enchantment Moth
ing could more ittingly prepare the eye
and mind for Yosemite than 20 enter
1t through the simply but majestically
beautiful gateway OF Wawona Valley,
thanked. as it were by the keepers lodge
Of harmonious but subordinated i'm
pressiveness, the grove Of Giant Sc
quotas.
But impatient as one may be to reach
Yosemite there is temptation to finger
at Wawona, as one may stop to admire
the charm Of the entrance that leads to
the majesty Of the mansion.
The early morning start by stage
coach excites the pleasure Of anticipa-
ton. The tonic in the mountain air
gives appreciativeness to every sense.
landscape as there seems an added dash
and roll to the movement Of the coach
and four as they swing away from the
hospitable doors Of the Wawona hotel
and thunder and plunge across the
bridge that snans the south fork Of the
MERGED River The river sparkles and
gables over granite boulders or muir
murs over quiet stretches as IL finds
It's way down from the ascending
ranges to the eastward, here gallOping
in a cascade or their leaping from a
height. Below the bridge it is a less
tumultuous creature than above, but
still FESTIVE, plunging, noisy.
The road begins an ascent which riges
$500 feet in dozen miles. 1t Is now
in Yosemite 4,&tional Park as might be
guessed as the stage rolls past a cavalry
encampment the breakfast caIl of the
bugles rhyming beautifully in senti-
ment with the morning air ana the rays
Of the early sun breaking over the
mountains and through the pines and
frs. For a time the road and the river
keep close together; the river at the
foot Of the mountains dropping lower
and lower as it finds its way to the
great basin valley Of the San joaquin
to the westward; the road rising higher
and higher as it climbs the side OF the
, mountain toward the Gorge of Won
( ders. But for mile or two the river
( seems just below the road, and then
| it wanders off to the left between
wooded hills whose ruggedness has
been rounded off, and through the gaps
OF which, as the road rises higher, the
great stretches of the San Joaquin Val
ley and the Coast Range beyond, and
even the rolling Pacific still farther
away, can be seen under some condi-
/ lions Of atmosphere. 1t is q beautiful
| ride. The mountains present a wild
! but peaceful scenery. The stage coach
rolls on at an invigcrating rate of speed
Horses are changed at frequent inter.
walls no less than thirty-two being used
for each through stage from Raymond
! to Yosemite. The wild game Is begin.
ming to feel the protection of the Ma.
| tional arm and deer and quail are moi
! infrequently seen. Squirrels Whisk
about from tree to tree in generous
numbers, and occasionally there are
signs of the less welcome bear and
mountain lion.
By the middle of the forenoon Chin.
quapin summit $500 feet above sea
level, has been scaled and there is an
impalpable something in the surround
ings which tells you that you are ap
preaching Yosemite. A turn in tbs
road and YOU are at Inspiration Point
and Yosemite in all it's grandeur bursts
upon you. There to the left is E
Captain whose impressiveness is mini
mized by saying it is the largest single
rock in the world, though that is thC
fact, and a useful one too, when one
makes more detailed study Of Yose.
mite and seeks to analyze its elements
But in this first view with it's sense OF
Overwhelmingness there is no room TO
such details. Yosemite is before you