The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1915-12-30


who have visited Yosemite later in the
year tell US that at the end of dry
summer the volume OF the falls is great
ly lessened
At the supper table that night one of
our companions was an ultra-English
Englishman He was bewailirg our some
what primitive accommodations, and the
fact that the hotel had no private baths,
since he Ibid dislike to take his bawth
in public bawthroom, bah Jove!" He
agreed with us that the climate of San
Francisco was "weally atrocious," and
and seemed inclined to the opinion that
of the Yosemite Valley was not much
better. That evening we made up a
party for donkey trip to Glacier Point
n ext day, and found much amusement in
! selecting our riding costumes from the
stock in trade maintained by the hotel.
Next morning seemed to promise the
much longed-for Sunshine, and at eight
O. clock we started. First in order was
stage trip to Mirror Lake, which is a
very ordinary little piece of water dur
ing the greater part of the day, but
which, as the first rays of sunlight strike
it in the morning, is transformed into a
perfect mirror. rejecting the surround
ing cliffs. At our visit few rain drops
disturbed the surface of the lake, and
we were obliged to wait for the cloud to
pass before witnessing the reflection.
Then we drove back past the Royal
Arches, great caves followed out of the
cliffs by some phenomenon of nature,
and called after the Masonic degree of
that name-to Happy Isles, where long
string of donkeys with guides was await
ing US. We had no voice in selecting our
mounts. an arbitrary guide did the
choosing for US, but finally the last one
was mounted and we started off, in single
file. Our Glacier Point party, which had
dwindled to three besides the guide-a
Mr.. Stephenson from Oklahoma, Will
and myself, was ahead. and those who
were taking the shorter trail to Vernal
and Nevada Falls only, brought up the
rear, 1t was our first, and never-to-be-
f orgotten experience on donkey back.
Will, whose familiarity with autos was
in inverse proportion to his knowledge
of donkeys, wondered how he should
"throw out the clutch and put on the
l. id
that score, for Strawberry" didn't
eed to be stopped, he stopped himself
as often as he could find an excuse, and
quite as often without any excuse at all,
much to the evaporation of our guide,
whom l overheard making sotto-voce re-
marks to the effect that ''the dad blam-
horn on his back"
Up the trail we VENT, at least, feel
ing like circus rider on parade-pass
ing score or more of tourists walking
up to Vernal Falls, and seeing success
sion of views that kept the camera busy.
The first of these was of Illilouette Falls,
far away and above us, on the right.
The trail led past the base of the beauti-
full Vernal Falls, or, as the Indians call
ed it, Cataract of Diamonds" which is
twice as high as Niagara. We did not
pause there, but kept on, upward over
a steep, narrow trail where the donkeys
topped often to rest. Finally we were
above the falls and dismounted to get {
nearer view of its rushing splendor. The
guide allowed US only few minutes of
rest, then we resumed our journey over
the steep trail by the banks of the river,
which we soon crossed on a bridge.
About mile above the Vernal Falls we
came to the foot of Nevada, while on the
| eft rose the granite peak of Liberty
Cap, 1900 feet above US. Our trail now
led, by series of zigzags up the gorge
at the left of the Falls; about half way
up is the point from which many photo
graphs of this Fall are taken. At the
top we again dismounted and went over
to the iron railing, whence we could look
down on the 600 foot drop beneath us
over which the MERGED rushes in foam
ing cataract. Words cannot describe
the wonders of these falls of the Yosem-
lite Valley, On the rocks at the top our
guide called our attention to smooth pol
i shed patches of black rock protruding
from the granite half inch or more.
These places, scientists claim, are posi-
i've evidence of glacial action and polish
! here thousands of years ago.
AS we mounted to ride on again the
rain drops began to fall. and our wealth
er wise guide, looking at the over hanging
clouds, "allowed it was going to keep
right on raining all day." And he was
right, from then on the rain fell contin-
uously. The clouds were sometimes
high enough to allow US glimpse of the
views we had come so far to see, and as
the trail wound along the face of PIANO.
rama Cliff the whole marvellous valley
lay spread out beneath US. We passed
over the bridge near the head of Illilou-
cite Falls, with only a glance at its Won
ders. Still the donkeys plodded steadily
a long, onward and upward, over the