The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1910-07-29
NATURE WAS LAVISH
WITH FAMED YOSEMITE
Towering Cliffs, Deep Canyons,
Mighty Waterfalls.
w Wonderfui Formations in Enduring
Stone Music of Falls Enchants
the Senses Mirror Lake Puts St.
Joe in Shade for Reflections.

Camp Lost Arrow, Yosemite Valley,
July 19.-(Special to The Gszette) -
Seven days in the Yosemite Valley has
been not only seven days OF intense
strenuosity but seven days OF the great
est delight, never to be forgotten. It
has been time spent in climbing great
heights, in looking down on depths be
spread out on every hand. Some of
these ascents have been made on foot,
which are frequently tiresome and ex-
hausting, but the greater number have
been reached on the hurricane deck Of a
mule, the hest mode of conveyance to
get to most points OF interest. The
mule among the everlasting mountains
is at his best. He ia slow, but gets there.
Sure-footed as a goat he zigzags up or
down the perpendicular cliffs where man
has marked out a narrow trail, and un-
comp!eiDingly landB his burden in safety
&C almost any point desired to be
reached. take off my hat TO the mule.
Yosemite Valley.
Yosemite Valley may be disappointing
to the visitor at first glance. Like most
wonders in nature it has depth, beauty
and grandeur all it's own. YDu do not
see a serrated range of mountains like
the Oily mpics in Washington or the Sell
kirks and Rockies in British Columbia,
neither the tremendous uplfts that pierce
the eky as 90 Mounts Rainier, Hood,
Shasta and other noted peaks on the
Pacific slope, but you do see beautiful
valley inclosed in perpendicular granite
walls thar tower thousands Of feet
above the floor Of the valley, with num-
erous waterfalls pouring into the peace
sul shades below. The adamantine walls
grow in wonder and greatness, particu-
larly alter ascending to the top and
-fziBg into the awful depths beneath.
Tue valley proper is 1000 feet above sea
level. Ii is about seven miles in length,
and has an average width OF one mile.
Beautiful meadows, where grass is cut
and put up as hay for winter, lends
pa storal aspect quite in contrast with
the mountain rugQedness surrounding 1t.
And the magnificent oak trees, with
large spreading branches, s!estic sugar
pines and other trees, with over 100 dt-
ferent varieties OF Towering plants, lends
an interest that is always soothing to
the senses, end that makes the place as
sweet and beautiful as The tabled valley
OF Rasselas. Through it passes the clear,
sparkling waters of the Merced river; IN
the more tranquil spots OF the deepest
sea green, that cannot fail 70 arrest the
attention of the visitor. This beautiful
coioring of mountain stream | have
seen nowhere else and is worthy of special
mention. Hence grandeur and suhIimity,
sweetness and repose grows with the days
that one spends within these walled en-
closures.
The Ride Into the Valley.
1t is q days ride by rail from San
L
the entrance into the Yosemite National
Park. You can 60 TO Merced by either
the Southern Pacific or the Santa Fe,
where you transfer TO the Yosemite rail-
road to Ell Portal, distance OF 1S miles.
From FL Portal you have stage ride Of
] 5 miles up the Merced river, through
Sine Yosemite canyon, into Yosemite
valley proper, where are numerous camps
capable of accommodating almost any
number OF guests.
This ride into the valley is unique, one
that is enioved by old and young alike.
The coaches are fine, bearing names as
do Pullman sleepers, made to carry IL
passengers. Four horses. guided by
jehu of experience, who points out points
OF interest as the horses jog along, makes
the ride into the valley one OF delight.
It is out OF the usual. Numerous stages
are on hand on the arrival of each train,
so no one need fear Of being left.
Wonderful cliff formations are seen on
this side. Pulpit Rock is pointed out,
with an open Bible, all in readiness for
some leyiathan to expound the doctrine
Of faith aud right living. The Totem
Pole, the head and trunk OF an elephant
carved on the face OF a perpendicular
granite wall, an exact representation OF
an owl, and figure known as the Wan
dering Jew are some of the things seen
ON this ride through the canyon.
Hotels and Camps.
And the camps? Well, they are q
feature OF the valley along with all else.
With the exception OF the Sentinel Hotel,
Z ~,ich is in the beautiful village of Yo-
fenite and remains open the year round.
the camps are open only during the ex-
eursion season, which lasts four months.