The ~Little Winkle Branch of Indian Creek~ is crossed a half mile beyond the main stream, and here the ~Snow Flat Trail~ continues upstream. Turning to the right, our trail passes thru a fir forest about one mile to ~Indian Ridge~, which it follows south over disintegrating granite and thru stunted forest to the rounded summit of ~North Dome~ (Alt. 7531). The view is most comprehensive and the sheer vertical wall of ~Half Dome~ gives an impression of massiveness nowhere else obtained. To the north of the trail near the summit is ~Slipper Rock~. In returning to Yosemite we take all main trails to the right. Retracing our path up ~Indian Ridge~ it is possible to follow the trail back to the ~East~ or ~Little Winkle Fork of Indian Creek~, and turn right on the ~Snow Flat Trail~, but the better and the shorter way is to follow the plain blazes which turn to the right about a half mile from the North Dome summit and just west of the crest of ~Indian Ridge~. Running thru a beautiful forest this trail joins the main ~Snow Flat Trail~ at the ~Little Winkle Branch of Indian Creek~ just west of ~Indian Rock~. It is also possible to leave the trail and follow up Indian Ridge from North Dome, gradually bearing to the right of ~Indian Rock~ and intersecting the main ~Mirror Lake Trail~ near the top of the zigzags. Our trail follows up the ~East~ or ~Little Winkle Branch of Indian Creek~, at the source of which the ~Porcupine Flat Trail~ branches to the left. The ~Mirror Lake Trail~ swings north of ~Indian Rock~, and descends east to a branch of ~Snow Creek~, passing ~Snow Creek Falls~. Further down Snow Creek is the junction with the ~Lake Tenaya Trail~ (Trail Trips 5 and 6). Turning right we further descend Snow Creek and pass over the rim of the canyon between ~Basket Dome~ (Alt. 7602) at the right and ~Mt. Watkins~ (Alt. 8235) at the left. In the next one and a half miles a descent of 2500 feet is made by 108 switchbacks to the floor of ~Tenaya Canyon~. Following down the canyon one mile, the trail joins the road at ~Mirror Lake~. Yosemite is three miles distant by road. TRAIL TRIP 4 YOSEMITE TO NORTH DOME _via_ MIRROR LAKE AND RETURN _via_ YOSEMITE FALLS TRAIL Reverse of Trail Trip 3 (19.5 miles--10 hours) This is a strenuous one-day climb. The advantage of taking the trip as follows and seeing the sunrise at ~Mirror Lake~ is more than offset by physical penalty of climbing the hot and steep ~Tenaya Trail~ zigzags. The trip is better taken in the reverse direction (Trail Trip 3). If the following route is adhered to, it is best to leave Yosemite as early as possible, carrying a canteen which should be filled about three-quarters of a mile above Mirror Lake.