Los Angeles herald., 1910-07-03

Standing above VogelSang lake, at
the edge of the snow, under the noon
day sun, we drew such a draught OF
satisfying gladness from the place and
the scene that for this alone would we
joyfully undertake the difficult jour-
ney. The mountains never tried to re-
pay us for our money and exertions,
but they kept the springs of delight
overf1owing, they poured out bounties
for us beyond all expectation. Indeed,
as we drank of the waters of joy they
gave it seems to have become per-
petual fountain of living water spring
ing up within us. l fancy that we
should not have taken so keen delight
and aroused such deep sources of
pleasure had we been at the heels of
guide. or perhaps even of guide
book. We had our difficulties, surely,
as all do who find happiness in these
places. The snow fields were deeply
pitted with holes so that walking was
somewhat trying. Our donkey broke
through and got down in the snow.
We were forced to carry all the things
by our own hands to the clear ground
beyond. But we finally got the beast
out, repacked him and started on.
Several hours later we missed the
fine field glasses we had carried, and
no doubt they are now in the SHOWS of
Vogelsang, at any rate somewhere be-
tween the summit and the foot of Ire
land creek trail.
From the outlet of Vogelsang lake
to the crest of Tuolumne pass Is gent
ly rising country, with several small
lakes and some marsh land. In Au-
gust there is but little snow on the
trail But it is difficult to follow the
trail here, for many of the old monu-
ments have been destroyed by the
SHOWS and no one has been through to
restore them. Only at long intervals
could we find the guiding stone piles.
The entire region was new to us, but
we knew in a general way the course
we ought to take, for we could make
out the main lines of the water sheds.
The contour maps of the United States
geological survey furnished the means
of determining our position quite ac-
curately from the elevations and de-
pressions so faithfully represented on
them. The Santa Fe railroad also had
issued a little folder with map or
this region which contains the main
outlines and has all the more recent
trails This little map was of great
service to us. While this region is
perfectly safe for travellers of good
sense and proper caution, it is no place
for the reckless or thoughtless. Vogel-
sang with it's enVironS, is worth q
whole summer of explorations. But
only careful men can explore great
mountain.
The trail soon turns downward over
a great ridge that forms the crest for
the southern wall of Lyell canyon. So
good by to Vogelsang, mountain OF
mystery and singular beauty. We are
in the forests again, zig-zaGglng down
for a thousand feet to the level val
ley of the Lyell fork of the Tuolumne
river.
We were very tired when we reached
ak hn
Ireland creek. But we were. oy no
means exhausted. The joints and
muscles were sore, so that we ached
with ten pains at once that often be-
came acute like a toothache. That
is the price we must pay for allow
ing our tissues to become unstrung and
too tender in the life of the CITY, They
cried out at the outrage we put upon
them in forcing them to deliver us at
the heights of Vogelsang and to bring
us through all the scenes of that no
table day. But they never rebelled,
and when we lay down at length after
supper and a great gathering of pine
boughs for the bed, they slowly re-
covered from their agonies, letting us
sleep and rest. I was more than sur
prised the next morning to find not a
sore or lame muscle about me. In the
evening my limbs were a bunch of
aches. Carl owned up to the same
feelings. At morning we were sup
pie and eager to be stirring.
The Lyell fork is an interesting
stream. 1t meanders through gently
sloping meadow half mile wide and
twenty miles long. Thousands of
front lie in its pools We are not fish