About one-third mile from the summit the little-used ~El Capitan Trail~ branches to the west. Descending by sharp switchbacks to the head of a small draw, the trail follows the rim westward thru a brushy forest, undulating over the flat divides between several brooklets. Swinging southward our trail emerges on an open transverse ridge, which it follows a short distance to the summit of ~El Capitan~ (Alt. 7564), from which is a commanding outlook both up and down the valley. It is possible to carefully descend towards the southeast to the rim, where a slightly extending ledge allows one to peer over the sheer wall of the 3000-foot cliff. The old ~El Capitan Trail to Gentry~ branches to the west about one-third of a mile north from the summit and continues thru very brushy country along the north rim to ~Ribbon Creek~, about one mile distant. From this point if one is a good woodsman and brush-fighter, the old blazes may be followed thru a three-mile tangle to the ~Gentry Checking Station~ on the ~Big Oak Flat Road~. Yosemite is then 8.1 miles distant by road. TRAIL TRIP 10 YOSEMITE TO TEN LAKES _via_ YOSEMITE CREEK (One way 17 miles--7 hours) The recently constructed ~Ten Lakes Trail~ makes the exceptionally beautiful ~Ten Lakes Basin~ and ~Grant Lakes~ easily accessible from Yosemite. The round trip is too long to be attempted in one day. The lakes offer most attractive sites for a permanent camp, and several of them are well stocked with trout. We follow the ~Yosemite Falls Trail~ (Trail Trip 3) from its beginning just west of ~Yosemite Lodge~ to the trail junction at the top of the upper zigzags. Here the ~Yosemite Point and North Dome Trail~ turns right and crosses a small creek. Those who have not visited the top of the upper fall should by all means turn aside, for it is but a short distance--less than five minutes' walk. Our main trail continues straight ahead paralleling without crossing ~Yosemite Creek~ thru a beautiful mixed forest where the tree-lover will find a few specimens of western white pine. At about one-quarter mile (4.0 miles from Yosemite) the ~Eagle Peak Trail~ (Trail Trip 9) branches to the left. We follow up the west margin of the creek, generally thru dense forests, but emerging at times to clatter over polished and striated granite pavements where monster mountain junipers grotesquely spread their gnarled branches. Great "potholes" have been formed by the stream where it rushes over the smoothly planed bedrock. At a point 3.7 miles above the Eagle Peak Trail junction the main trail continues to the left up the west fork (Trail Trip 11). Our trail, which turns right and keeps on up the main fork canyon, is considerably less traveled. In the next 2.3 miles we pass over rough granite up the west bank of the main stream to the ~Yosemite Creek Ranger Station~ on the ~Tioga Road~. There is here a government telephone. Good camp sites will be found at the crossing a quarter of a mile east of the cabin