Guide to Yosemite: A handbook of the trails and roads of Yosemite valley and the adjacent regionHall, Ansel F. (Ansel Franklin)
History
Guide to Yosemite: A handbook of the trails and roads of Yosemite valley and the adjacent region
Hall, Ansel F. (Ansel Franklin)
Yosemite Valley (Calif.) -- Guidebooks
A climb of 400 feet thru the forest now takes us to the summit of a
long ridge which we follow southward, finally paralleling the edge of
a deep precipice just westward from ~Castle Cliffs~ and emerging
abruptly at ~Yosemite Point~ (Alt. 6935). This is one of the justly
famous view-points of Yosemite and offers a remarkable combination of
depths and distances. The granite spire just below and at the right is
the ~Lost Arrow~, the "Le Hammo" of the Yosemite Tribe, the story of
which is one of their most charming legends.
Returning a short distance to the main trail we descend to ~Yosemite
Creek~. On the open ridge just beyond the crossing is a secondary
trail which leads to the rim of the ~Upper Yosemite Fall~, a few
hundred feet distant. The wonderful view from this point is most
thrillingly described by Muir.
Returning to the main trail we cross a small stream where is the
junction with the ~Yosemite Creek~, ~Eagle Peak~ and ~Ten Lakes
Trails~ (Trail Trips 11, 9 and 10). There is here a government
telephone (Central 1 ring). Turning left we descend abruptly 1600 feet
by sharp, dusty switchbacks, finally skirting the bottom of the almost
vertical cliff west of the falls. At this point one can leave the
trail and climb to the foot of the upper fall, in times of low water
even entering the cave beneath its base. The climb is dangerous
because of the slippery rocks.
The trail now passes southward along a granite ledge beneath the shade
of oaks and laurel. A short steep descent at the left of the trail
takes us to ~Valley View~, an excellent lookout point. Less than
one-half mile further is ~Columbia Point~ (Alt. 5031) from which is a
particularly wide and effective panorama. The following 2000-foot
descent to the floor of Yosemite Valley is first along granite ledges
among scattered Douglas firs and golden oaks, and finally beneath the
dense laurel and oak forests of the lower talus slopes. At the foot of
the trail is the ~El Capitan Road~. Auto busses run between this and
other valley points on half-hour service. ~Yosemite Lodge~ is a short
distance eastward and ~Yosemite Village~ is about three-quarters of a
mile distant via Yosemite Lodge and the foot-bridge.
TRAIL TRIP 5
YOSEMITE TO TENAYA LAKE _via_ CLOUDS REST AND FORSYTH PASS AND RETURN
_via_ MIRROR LAKE
Reverse of Trail Trip 6
(32.25 miles--2-day trip)
Owing to the stupendous mountain scenery and the charming diversity of
meadows and forests thru which this trail passes, it deserves to be
ranked among the most scenic of Yosemite Trails. Two days should be
taken for the trip. Excellent accommodations will be found at Tenaya
Lake Lodge, but reservations should be made in advance from Yosemite.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account