Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1914-04-17
Seeing Yosemite Valley
Rev. L. N. Days Travel Stories Continued.

Yosemite, said to be the Indian
name for deep valley, is one of the
several great national parks Of the
west, discovered in 1851, very irreg-
ular in it's present boundary, con-
tanning some 1924 square miles or
ii719,622 acres, making it but one
third the size of Yellowstone. Yo-
lsemite is near the crest, but on the
western slope Of the Sierra Nevada
range of mountains in California.
That portion of the park of most
interest and. more often frequented
by the tourist, or native Californian.
is Yosemite valley, narrow level
tract, hemmed in onevery side by
massive mountain walls. It is about
seven miles in length east and west
and at it's widest point is less than
la mile from mountain base to base.
Sometime in the history Of crea-
ton an earthquake rent these solid
mountains asunder; later in this
deep chasm. the icebuergs polished
the face of the cliffs and sides and
base Of the mountains, until they
were made as smooth as glass. Many
Of these places yet remain and re-
fleet like water the brightness Of the
sun. The earthquake, the iceberg,
the frost and snow, the summers
rain and the thunder's deafening
peal, have crumbled down from the
towering heights great slabs of
granite, filling the deep valley with
a thousand or more feet of huge
boulders and rock which has ground
itself into sand and dust.
The "floor" thus furnished is;
about 1000 feet above sea level, but
from three to six thousand feet be-
low the precipitous walls which
surround it,. Great layers of rock
keep Smelling off while others hang
ing with little holding them, seem
ready to fall without further notice
to the floor several thousand feet
below. In our tent one night we heard
"a small piece slap, slap, slap as it
bounded and struck and finally
stopped. Others heard it but our
camp was in tn zone of safety.
Through the center of this val
ley fed by many falls and mountain
streams gently flows the MERGED
river, it's waters no longer angry as
appears at the falls, it's banks
fringed with giant pine or cedar.
dotted with tents of campers, perm
anent camps, or soldiers quarters.
The stream is crossed BY frequent
bridges, and the fisher, rod in hand
may be seen angling for the wary
trout.
From Ell Portal this valley is
reached by stage coach drawn by
four horses. The IA mile drive up
the river is exciting and exhilirating.
The waters Of the MERGED are ang-
ry at the frequent boulders which
lie in its path. The government
has force of men widening the
road with explosives and teams.
They are as yet too narrow for
teams to meet autos. SO the latter
were excluded from the park. but re-
ports since say that already the
stages have given place to
great auto trucks, and sight seeing
cars, which make the trip in very
short time. We were glad the teams
went slowly Of necessity, for the
scenery is enchanting. Wonder a
great black form, smooth and round-
ing rises several thousand feet in
the sky It is called the Elephant,
and it develops as You pass slowly
until the giant beast stands out be-
fore you. Wonderful falls are COM
ing down, wonderful domes are ris-
ing higher as you approach them,
and wonderful trees are on every
side. Can this be dream. or is it
after all real? Is this earth. or might !
it not be paradise?
The driver asks, "Where do you
want to stop-at what camp? It
was all one and the same to me
and N said II want to-, so, as far as
my ticket will take ma" This land
ed US up at the currey camp. the
farthest camp in the valley and
nearest to the objects of great in
terest. Those who stopped before
had to walk farther or hire convey
ances to go to points of interest
near us. The roadway at one place
passes between two giant boulders
which form an arch far above your
head and left plenty of room be-
meath for teams Prof. Currey is a
genial host and himself and wife