Just above is the ~Diamond Cascade~ and bridge. Our trail now joins the horse trail, which descends from the slope above. Crossing the river at Diamond Cascade, the trail ascends to ~Snow Flat~ below ~Liberty Cap~ (Alt. 7072), which towers above to the left. This granite dome, the Mah'-ta, or "Martyr Mountain" of the Indians, can be ascended by a difficult climb up its eastern flank. Good rock-climbers will find an interesting scramble up the deep defile between this dome and ~Mt. Broderick~ (Alt. 6705) just northward. At the left of the trail is the site of the old La Casa Nevada Hotel (The Snow House), which was built in the early days and burned down in 1897. The old register is in the Yosemite Museum. The rockslide to the left fell from the face of Liberty Cap in 1918. Fishing is fair from Diamond Cascade to Nevada Falls. The trail turns left and mounts 500 feet by the famous ~Nevada Falls Zigzags~. When white men first visited Yosemite, part of the Merced descended in a cascade where the trail is now built. At the top of the switchbacks the trail to ~Little Yosemite~, ~Clouds Rest~, ~Tuolumne Meadows~ and ~Merced Lake~ (Trail Trips 13, 5, 8 and 7) continues up the canyon. There is here a government telephone (Central 1 ring). The new location of a refreshment stand and rest house in the vicinity is indicated by a sign. Our trail turns right and crosses a small bridge, thence turning southwest to the top of ~Nevada Falls~ (Alt. 5910, Height 594 ft.). Nevada is "snow" in Spanish and replaces the old Indian name Yo-wy-we. Note especially the shooting spray rockets. These are most wonderful when painted by first rays of sunshine at 7.30 to 8 a.m. Many claim that, looking down from the rim, the Nevada is the valley's most fascinating and beautiful fall. Above this point the river was called by the Yosemite Tribe "Yo-wy-we-ack," or the "twisting rock" branch. Crossing the river just above the falls, the trail climbs abruptly 700 feet by switchbacks. At the summit the ~Mono Meadow~ and ~Merced Pass Trail~ up ~Illilouette Creek~ turns left (Trail Trip 23). Our trail turns right and follows the rim of ~Panorama Cliff~ almost level for about one mile to ~Panorama Point~ (Alt. 6224). From here is a fine view of ~Royal Arches~, ~Washington Column~ and ~North Dome~ across the head of ~Yosemite Valley~, and of ~Half Dome~ and ~Grizzly Peak~ to the right. The trail descends 400 feet to the top of ~Illilouette Falls~ (Alt. 5850, Fall 370 ft.). Good fishing is reported in upper ~Illilouette Creek~. Exploration up this canyon will well repay those interested in glacial phenomena.