The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1912-09-05
A Trip to the Yosemite.

This wonderful valley is situated four
thousand feet above sea-level. on the
west side of the Sierra Nevada noun
tains. which separates California from
the rest of the Union. It is an immense
gorge, over seven miles in length, and
from half to one mile in width. There
are various theories as to its formation,
but scientists generally accept the glacial
theory that the earth was torn asunder
in some mighty CONFUSION and then filled
with glaciers, which slowly moving,
gradually wore their way through, CIV
ing us the beautiful Yosemite, the Gear
den of the Sierras."
We left Redlands at 10. 80 p. m. on the
Santa Fe, arriving in MERGED next morn
ing at eleven. Here we transferred to
the Yosemite valley railroad, which runs
for eighty miles along the banks of the
MERGED river. in a steadily ascending
grade A delightful ride of four hours
brought US to Ell Portal (the gateway,
where there is a fine modern hotel. Here
we dined and spent the night, taking the
stage at seven next morning for the val
ley. This is charming drive of four
teen miles, over a sprinkled road, up
through the MERGED river canon. The
river is beside US for the entire distance
and is perfectly fascinating, with it's
falls and jolly little rapids and still pools,
whence an occasional trout splashes.
saw for the first time, rainbow trout
the native trout of California-so-ca
from the rainbow stripe nearly an inch
in width, which runs along each side.
These. with two speckled brook trout i'm
ported from the East, lying in creel on
a bed of green, made pretty sight. As
we went on the canon grew holder and
deeper, and one by one the different
peaks and falls, which are so familiar
from pictures, come to our view. Among
them, Cathedral Dome and spire, Bridal
Veil Falls and the Three Graces on our
right; on the left, ''Three Brothers.
Yosemite Falls and GEL Captain" all too
lnarvellously grand and sublime for me
to attempt anv description.
The last four miles of our drive was on
the "foor" of the valley, which is almost
perfectly level, though four thousand
feet high. The river, now smooth and
placid, its banks bordered with pink and
white azaleas, winds its way through the
greenest of green meadows and under
the trees. These are principally yellow
pine, fir, cedar, cottonwood and live-oak.
Yosemite village is in the center of the
valley, has postoffice, express and tele-
graph offices, general store, several
studios and the Sentinel Hotel, the only
hotel in the valley. This is open to visi-
tors all the year. Besides the hotel,
there are three camps, which are hotels
in tents. Here are stationed the hundred
and fifty U. S. troops, and the rates for
stages, saddle7horses and hotels are con-
trolled by the Government, and are very
reasonable.
We stayed at Camp Curry, which has
electric lights, bath-house, over four
hundred tents and large frame building
for dining-room, with another for the
office, where there is a big fireplace,
making the chilly mornings comfortable
and alternating the discomfort of the one
rainy day in our two weeks trip. The
tents have board floors with burlap car
pets, and are furnished with iron beds, |
dressers, washstand and chairs, all as
complete as in hotel. The table is ex-
cellent, and the courteous walters are
boys and girls from the Universities. |
Pure spring water is piped through the
camp and the soil is sandy with thick
layer of pine needles. There is big
campfire every night where the guests
sit and chat, or perhaps listen to some
impromptu entertainment. The proprie-
tor gives little talk each night to the
new arrivals, instructing them as to the
best way of reaching the different points
of interest. Glacier Peak is thirty-two
hundred feet higher than the camp and
is eleven miles distant by trail. One
walks or rides mile, and as Mr.. Curry
says, eff you ride you will wish you had
walked, and if you walk you will wish
you had ridden.''
On Glacier Peak, with its overhanging
rock, an immense bonfire is built every
night and when it has burned to Goals,
is pushed off the rock and falls one thou
sand feet to the lodges below, making
"fire-fall" equal to any waterfall in the
valley. The effect is fine, especially on
a dark night.
Near the camp is the La Conte Me-
mortal Lodge, open to the public during
the season. The reading room is filled
with maps, photographs and literature
pertaining to the Sierras. DR.. La Conte
had visited the Yosemite eleven times
and died there in 1901.
The general impression one receives in
driving and walking about is one of awe
and wonder at the grandeur and immen-
sity and then one comes upon dear lit