This chapter is included in this etext for completeness. Of course, the vast majority of this quaint tourist information, originally published in 1904, (except for the geographical and etymological facts) is a century out of date. The advice to "TAKE YOUR CAMERA" is timeless, though.--J. B. Hare.
Secure stage seats in advance.
Take only hand baggage, unless for a protracted visit. For a short trip, an outing suit and two or three waists, with a change for evening wear, will be found sufficient. The free baggage allowance on the stage lines is fifty pounds.
Men will find flannel or negligee shirts the most comfortable.
In April, May and June wear warm clothing and take heavy wraps. In July, August and September wear medium clothing, with light wraps. In October and November wear warm clothing, with heavy wraps. The nights are cool at all seasons.
Dusters are always advisable, and ladies should provide some light head covering to protect the hair from dust. Sun bonnets are frequently worn.
Short skirts are most convenient.
Divided skirts are proper for trail trips, as ladies are required to ride astride. Heavy
denim for skirt and bloomers is very satisfactory. Such skirts can be hired in the Valley.
Waists of soft material and neutral shades are appropriate. Avoid white.
Something absolutely soft for neckwear will be found a great comfort, both by men and women.
Leggings, stout, comfortable shoes and heavy, loose gloves will be found very serviceable.
A soft felt hat is preferable to straw. One that will shade the eyes is best. A cloth traveling cap is the worst thing to wear.
Smoked glasses will sometimes save the wearer a headache.
Except in April, May and November, an umbrella is a useless encumbrance.
If the skin is sensitive, and one wishes to avoid a painful sunburn, the use of a pure cream and soft cloth is preferable to water, and far more efficacious.
A week is the shortest time that should be allowed for a trip to Yosemite. Two weeks are better. The grandeur of the Valley cannot be fully appreciated in a few weeks.
Those not accustomed to staging or mountain climbing should make some allowance in their itineraries for rest. Many visitors spoil their visit by getting too tired.
Take a little more money than you think will be needed. You may wish to prolong your stay.
Hunting, or possession of firearms, is not permitted in the Yosemite National Park. Fishing is allowed, and in June and July an expert angler is likely to be well rewarded. Rods and tackle may be hired in the Valley.
There is no hardship, risk or danger in any part of the Yosemite trip. Many old people and children visit the Valley without difficulty.
A knowledge of horsemanship is not needed for going on the trail. The most timid people make the trips with enjoyment. Some of the finest views can only be obtained in this way.
There is a laundry in the Valley.
There is a barber shop.
There is a post office, telegraph, and express.
There is a general store and places for the sale of photographs, curios and Indian work.
Treat the Indians with courtesy and consideration, if you expect similar treatment from them. Do not expect them to pose for you for nothing. They are asked to do it hundreds of times every summer, and are entitled to payment for their trouble.
Kodak films and plates can be obtained in the Valley.
Developing and printing are done in the Valley.
TAKE YOUR CAMERA.
The following rates for the transportation of tourists in and about the Yosemite Valley have been established by the Board of Commissioners to manage the Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Big Tree Grove:
|
FROM HOTELS OR PUBLIC CAMPS, AND RETURN. |
Estimated distance (Round Trip) |
Rate for Party of Four or More |
Rate For Party of Less Than Four |
|
|
Miles |
Each Person |
Each Person |
|
To Cascades, Yosemite and Bridal Veil Falls |
16.00 |
$1.50 |
$2.00 |
|
To Mirror Lake |
5.82 |
1.00 |
1.00 |
|
To River View and Bridal Veil Falls |
10.41 |
1.00 |
1.50 |
|
To New Inspiration Point |
14.38 |
2.00 |
2.50 |
|
To Happy Isles |
4.00 |
.50 |
1.00 |
|
To Yosemite Falls |
3.00 |
.50 |
.75 |
Continued on next page.
|
FROM HOTELS OR PUBLIC CAMPS, AND RETURN. |
Estimated distance (Round Trip) |
Rate for Party of Four or More |
Rate For Party of Less Than Four |
|
|
miles |
Each Person |
Each Person |
|
To Vernal and Nevada Falls |
10.90 |
$2.50 |
$3.00 |
|
To Yosemite Falls and Eagle Peak |
13.18 |
3.00 |
3.00 |
|
To Glacier Point and Sentinel Dome |
11.14 |
3.00 |
3.00 |
|
To Yosemite Point |
10.00 |
2.50 |
3.00 |
|
To Eagle Peak |
13.00 |
3.00 |
3.00 |
|
To Vernal and Nevada Falls and Glacier Point (Continuous Trip) |
19.22 |
4.00 |
5.00 |
|
To Glacier Point, Sentinel Dome and Fissures |
14.00 |
3.50 |
3.75 |
|
To Old Inspiration Point and Stanford Point |
16.00 |
4.00 |
4.00 |
|
To Vernal and Nevada Falls and Cloud's Rest (Same Day) |
22.00 |
4.00 |
5.00 |
|
Charges For Guide (Including Horse) When Furnished |
|
Free |
3.00 |
1. Trips other than those above specified shall be subject to special arrangements between the parties and the stables.
2. Any excess of the above rates, as well as any extortion, incivility, misrepresentation, or riding of unsafe animals, should be reported to the Guardian's office.
3. All distances are estimated from the Guardian's office.
By ORDER OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.
SUPPLEMENTARY TABLE OF DISTANCES.
FROM GUARDIAN'S OFFICE.
|
|
MILES |
|
Bridal Veil Fall |
4 |
|
Yosemite Falls, base |
¾ |
|
Upper Yosemite Fall, base |
2 ¾ |
|
Upper Yosemite Fall, top |
4 ¼ |
|
Little Yosemite Valley |
8 |
|
Glacier Point (short trail) |
4 ½ |
|
Glacier Point (via Nevada Falls) |
14 ½ |
|
Cascades |
8 |
The Indians had names for all the prominent features of the Yosemite Valley, and these have been variously translated (sometimes with considerable poetic license), and variously spelled. The translations given below are as literal as possible, without embellishment, and are believed to be fairly accurate. The spelling adopted is such as best indicates the pronunciation.
The English names, by which the falls and peaks are commonly known, bear no relation to the Indian names, but were bestowed by
the soldiers of the Mariposa Battalion at the time the Valley was discovered. The appropriateness and good taste of most of them are due to Dr. L. H. Bunnell, the surgeon of the expedition.
AH-WAH'-NEE (original name of Yosemite Valley)--"Deep grassy valley."
YO-SEM'-I-TE--"Full-grown grizzly bear."
PO-HO'-NO (Bridal Veil)--"A puffing wind."
LOI'-YA (The Sentinel)--"A signal station."
CHO'-LACK (Yosemite Falls)--"The falls."
CHO-KO'-NI (Royal Arches)--"Canopy of baby basket." Strictly speaking this name applies only to a deep alcove near the top of this cliff.
YO-WEI'-YEE (Nevada)--"Twisting."
TO-TAU-KON-NU'-LA (El Capitan)--Named from the To-tau'-kons, or cranes, which used to make their nests in a meadow near the top of this rock.
KU-SO'-KO (Cathedral Rock)--Interpretation doubtful.
PU-SEE'-NA CHUCK'-AH (Cathedral Spires)--"Pu-see-na" means mouse or rat, and might possibly be applied to a squirrel. "Chuck-ah" is a store house or cache.
WAW-HAW'-KEE (Three Brothers)--"Falling rocks." Pom-pom-pa'-sus, usually given as the Indian name of the Three Brothers, is the name of a smaller rock immediately to the West.
WEI-YOW' (Mt. Watkins)--"Juniper Mountain."
TO-KO'-YA (North Dome)--"The basket."
TIS-SA'ACK (Half Dome)--A character in Indian mythology.
MAH'-TA (Cap of Liberty)--Said to mean "Martyr Mountain."
PI-WEI'-ACK (Vernal Fall)--Said to mean "Sparkling Water."
LE-HAM'-I-TEE (Indian Canyon)--"The place of the arrow-wood."
HUM-MO' (Devil's Thumb)--"The Lost Arrow."
AH-WEI'-YA (Mirror Lake)--"Quiet Water."
TOO-LOO'-LO-WEI-ACK (Illillouette Fall)--Interpretation doubtful.
WAH'-WO-NAH--"Big Tree." (Now commonly spelled and pronounced Wa-wo'-na.)
|
|
FEET |
|
Cascades |
700 |
|
Bridal Veil |
940 |
|
Ribbon |
3,300 |
|
Sentinel |
3,270 |
|
Yosemite (Upper 1,600 ft.; Lower 400 ft.) |
2,634 |
|
Royal Arch |
2,000 |
|
Vernal |
350 |
|
Nevada |
700 |
|
Illillouette |
500 |
(The Valley Floor is about 4,000 feet above sea level.)
|
|
FEET |
|
Inspiration Point |
1,248 |
|
El Capitan |
3,300 |
|
Cathedral Rock |
2,679 |
|
Cathedral Spires |
1,934 |
|
Royal Arches |
(span) 2,000 |
|
The Sentinel |
3,100 |
|
Sentinel Dome |
4,122 |
|
Three Brothers |
3,900 |
|
Eagle Peak |
3,900 |
|
Yosemite Point |
3,220 |
|
Glacier Point |
3,250 |
|
North Dome |
3,725 |
|
Half Dome |
5,000 |
|
Cap of Liberty |
3,062 |
|
Union Point |
2,350 |
|
Cloud's Rest |
5,912 |
|
Mt. Starr King |
5,100 |
| King-eet' | One |
| O-tee'-cat | Two |
| Tul-o'-cat | Three |
| O-'e-sart | Four |
| Mo'-ho"-cat | Five |
| Te'-mo"-cat | Six |
| Te-tow'-ok | Seven |
| Cow-in'-tuk | Eight |
| El'-e"-wok | Nine |
| Ne-ah'-jah | Ten |
| Wat-too' | The Sun |
| Co'-ma | Moon |
| He-a'-mah | Day |
| Cow-il'-la | Night |
| Tum-aw'-lin | North |
| Chu'-muck | South |
| He'-home | East |
| El-o'-win | West |
| Het-a-poo'-pa | Cold |
| Wool-tut'-tee | Hat [sic] |
| Come'-haw | Burn |
| Chum'-haw | Dead or Die |
| Na'-win | Up or Above |
| Hoo'-ya | Down or Below |
| Wool-ar'-nee | To Hunt or Look For |
| Took'-hah | To Kill |
| E'-win | Now |
| Oo'-haw | By and Bye |
| Man'-nik | More |
| Ut'-tee | Much |
| Wa'-le-co | Quick |
| Now'-tah | To Steal |
| Nung'-hah | Man |
| O'-hock | Woman |
| Es-el'-lo | Baby or Infant |
| Wil-tuk'-um-nees | Tuolumne River |
| Yo-sem'-i-tees | Yosemite Valley |
| Po-to-en'-sees and Noot'-choos | Merced River |
| Chow-chil'-lies | Chowchilla Valley |
| Me-'-woos | Fresno Valley |
| Chook-chan'-chies | Fresno and San Joaquin Rivers |
| Ho-na'-ches | San Joaquin River |
| Pit-cal'-chees and Tal-an'-chees | San Joaquin Valley |
| Cas-was'-sees | Fine Gold Gultch |
| Wa-too'-keees, Wat'-chees, No-'to--no'-tose and We-mel'-chees | Kings River |
| Cow-il'-lees and Tel-um'-nees | Four Creeks |
| Woo'-wells and Tal'-chees | Tule Lake |