The round trip to the summit is one of the most thrilling and scenic one-day Yosemite excursions. Parties should start early and carry canteens. From ~Happy Isles~ the main ~Glacier Point Trail~ (Trail Trip 1) should be followed (take the Mist Trail if walking) to the top of the ~Nevada Falls~ zigzags. Here we turn left and follow the ~Clouds Rest Trail~ (Trail Trip 5). A climb of 800 feet above the Little Yosemite Valley takes us to a small stream. About 200 yards further, in a fine grove of Jeffrey pine and incense cedar, the Clouds Rest Trail bears to the right along a bench, while our trail climbs the long switchbacks to the left. The remaining 500-foot climb is thru dense forest. Anderson's old trail crosses our route in one place and zigzags up the hillside about a quarter mile eastward. Just below the ridge and about 200 yards to the right of the trail is a spring near the big pile of stones, which are the only relics of Captain Anderson's camp. Canteens should be filled here, as no water will be found higher. A short climb takes us to the crest of the ridge at the lowest point between ~Quarter Domes~ (Alt. 8276 and 8160) at the northeast and ~Half Dome~ at the southwest. At the ridge top is a forest of lodgepole pine and a sudden transition to pure fir as we cross to the northwestern slope where the climate is more severe. Climbing beneath these firs we suddenly emerge at the crest and obtain a wide view of the ~High Sierra~ on one side and the depths of ~Tenaya Canyon~ on the other. A few minutes' walk along the open ridge takes us to the rustic entrance which marks the beginning of the foot trail. The pile of timbers and boards nearby were hewn and split by Captain Anderson to be used for his Half Dome Hotel. The foot-trail now climbs abruptly 250 feet by short zigzags and stairs to "~The Saddle~," along the crest of which we continue to the base of the final ascent. If tennis shoes are to be used they should be put on at this point. The tool-box nearby contains ropes and safety belts for the use of the public, but the ascent is perfectly safe without them. From here an 800-foot double cable railing with iron posts every ten feet leads to the top. On the steep slopes are footholds, and at one place a fifty-foot ladder carries us over the most dangerous part of the ascent. Turning to the right at the top of the cableway we follow the monuments across the surprisingly flat summit to the brink of the great northeast face, where we find an overhanging shelf of granite. The panorama at all sides is inexpressibly grand, but some of the valley features suffer by being dwarfed in the great distances below. The descent should be started not later than 3 to 4 p.m. in order to reach Yosemite before dark. TRAIL TRIP 15 YOSEMITE TO GLACIER POINT _via_ THE LEDGE TRAIL (2.5 miles. Average 4 hours climb)