November 1929

The Yosemite Museum Volume VI11

NOVEMBER,

1929 Number 11 Department of the Interior Ray Lyman Wilbur, Secretary National Park Service Horace M. Albright, Director

YOSEMITE NATURE NOTES THE PUBLICATION OF THE YOSEMITE EDUCATIONAL DEPARTMENT AND THE YOSEMITE NATURAL HISTORY ASSOCIATION

Published monthly Volume VIII November 1929 Number

THE ASCENT OF RED PEAK

By C. A. Harwell A brisk one hour ride through the about twelve miles each way, with cold morning air of September 26. a climb from the lowest part of the brought us at 6 o'clock to the trail trail, the Illilouette creek, of 5200 leading from the Glacier point road feet in altitude to reach our sumdown through Mono meadows. A mit. There were three of us in the great gray owl, seemingly more surparty, Assistant Park Naturalist prised to see us than we were to H. E. Perry, Ranger E. Newton see him, flew across the road with Morris and the park naturalist. Our slow, noiseless wing beats and lit first three miles led quite abruptly near the top of a red fir. He was jr. down hill across Mono meadows to plain view and his large size, smooth Illilouette creek. Our packs were round head and markings clearly light, containing simply our lunche s identified him as North America's small camera and field glasses. We largest owl had a strong purpose to explore After we got out of our open ma Red Peak to the top and bring back chine with purpose in mind of build photographs and rock specimens of ing a fire, warming ourselves, and this geologically Interesting moun preparing our bacon and eggs and tain. Many times we had looked at coffee, we all yelled in childish glee it through glasses from several di --for what particular reason I know rections and had often wondered not. Imagine our surprise at this why it stood so red among the other hour of the day to be answered from peaks of the Mount Clark range the meadows a half mile below One Merced Peak, 11,722 feet Ottoway coyote was responding to us, or Peak, 11,500; Gray Peak, 11,581, and challenging us, just which we did Mount Clark, 11,506, all of which not care because we were cold and seem to be composed of the usual fire and food were things of more rock of the region—granite.

hoped rock specimens we might col- At 7:15 we started on a hike lect could be identified and exhibit which we estimated would require ed at the Glacier Point Lookout sr;

that others might be helped to an seemed to be trying to demonstrate understanding of the story told by to us the glories of altitude. Sevthe red coloration of this peak. eral times in his circles he came The air was clear and crisp and down quite close to us, within less grass by the trail was covered with than 100 feet, so that we were quite frost, so we swung along with free sure he was a Swainson, perhaps un stride. We soon crossed Illilouette his migration beyond the borders of creek and started a gradualclimb California on the south to spend along the Merced Pass trail. We the winter months. Our climb was had hoped to shorten our distance at no time dangerous. We marveled at the view continually unshoulder of the lateral moraine folding before us as we approached which flanks Ottoway creek on its the summit--the deep blue lakes in eastern side for several miles, but rocky basins below us and the found it so closely brush overgrown array of peaks to the north and that it would have been slow work east. to make our way through it. We It was 3 o'clock when we finally followed the trail to Ottoway creek. reached the monument of rock then up the creek to the east, entermarking the top. A rusty can in. ing the large amphitheater carved serted in a niche contained this recout by ancient glaciers from the ord. "September 14, 1919, Charles sides of Merced peak, Ottoway peak Michael, Rufus Joyner, Enid and Red peak. Michael and William Joyner." In

After eating our lunch by this another niche a screw topped metal stream we started directly to climb tube bearing the monogram of the the closest shoulder of Red Peak. Sierra Club contained the followAt the edge of the last rock-bordered record: "Ansel E. Adams, May meadow in the cirque of Red 25, 1920; H. D. Saville, May 25, 1920 Peak we saw evidences that the Norman Clyde, Beaver Falls, Pe Yosemite cony knew that winter June 14. 1920." We soon added our was fast approaching On several names, seemingly the first visitors sheltered flat rocks we noticed to this summit in nine years. For small bunches of grass and one three-quarters of an hour we re neat pile consisting of about a mained to enjoy the view of famildozen stalks of alpine sedge which iar peaks seen from a new angle--this small

haymaker had placed The Minarets, Ritter, Banner, Lyell, there to cure for his winter's food Maclure, Conness, the Cathedral supply. The cheerful talkative call Group and, closer to us, Vogelsang. note of several Sierra juncos feedHalf Dome, Clouds Rest, Starr-King ing about the frosted buffalo grass and many others stood out much made the whole mountain seem more plainly than we had ever seen quite friendly and close to us. A them from any one point. hundred-foot climb above this last Our knapsacks filled with inter bit of water and we were associ- eating rock specimens, we started ated with white barked pine and on our homeward journey at t clinging like it to the sharp edge of o'clock knowing that we had 15 a ridge left standing block upon miles between us and our automoblock in between two cirques. bile. While the other two started Above us soaring easily in wide directly down the lowest part of the graceful circles a Swainson hawk western cirque expecting to take

advantage of the looser rock forma so that I missed my rock, landing tion in going down, I followed the knee deep in icy water. To regain knife edge in the direction of Gray my equilibrium both arms were Peak to see if it would be possible plunged to the elbow in the stream. to approach the mountains from To make it worse, my,pack slipped that side. After determining it off and my sweater was plunged in, would be entirely possible to climb weighted down by ten pounds of Red Peak from the shore of the rock specimens. Anyway, one foot lake at the head of Red Creek, I remained dry, but it was difficult picked my way down over sliding to keep it so. By the aid of some blocks of rock to join my party. We light and very little encouraged by found it was necessary for us to the hilarious laughing of my two make all haste in order to be on companions, I was able to gain the our trail by dark. Between the shore, where I at once demanded three of us we possessed one flash that a fire be built. All of us light, but discovering its battery suddenly sobered down and soon a was none too strong and realizing cheerful fire of pine needles and we would have at least five hours, some sticks was drying me off and hiking in the dark we spared the renewing the courage of the party, precious battery as much as poss- which had fallen somewhat. ible Ranger Morris, being an ex- Our fire extinguished, we found perienced mountaineer, led the way it very difficult to locate the trail and his keen sense of feel of the we knew must lead away from trail kept us headed in the right Illilouette creek toward Mono direction, although this is a rather Meadows. After quite a bit of feeluntraveled trail and much of it was ing about trunks of trees for rue in deep shadow of forest or over familiar signs and scraping our feet hanging canyon. through pine needles for the feel of Our flashlight had become prac- the trail, we found ourselves climbtically useless by the time we ing the zig-zags and started our reached Illilouette creek. We would last and hardest three miles with have to depend on three boxes of one box of matches and a flashmatches for light in finding the light reduced by use to glowworm last three miles of our trail, which proportions. We reached Mono we knew would be quite steep up Meadows at 11 o'clock. A white grade and for the most part frost seemed to reflect the light of through fir forest. Ranger Morris the stars so that objects about the successfully jumped from one meadow were very plainly visible round stone to another and crossed perhaps for this reason it was all Illilouette creek dry shod, He di the more dark when we entered the rested the flickering light and fir forest under the shadow of called for me to "come on" Just Ostrander Rocks, and, depending or. as I reached the middle of the feel for the most part and a lighted stream and was prepared to leap match occasionally, made our way the roundest of the rocks he was the last half mile of steep trail up seized with a sudden impulse to the Glacier Point road. Just as we conserve light and so turned off reached our machines at 11:30 the flashlight. It was 10 o'clock, o'clock we could see the moon we were all tired, and my judgment through the forest of fir, a curve of distance failed me in the dark crescent hanging above Clouds

Rest. We were soon in Yosemite semite visitors the story of meta-Valley, where hot soup and toast morphic rocks overlying granite, helped us forget the fatiguing part then our efforts will be well repaid. of our 21-hour day. The trip in itself was well worth If our rock, specimens collected at the time and some day we hope to Red Peak, which we are sending away to be identified by competent get back to this same ridge to exgeologists, prove to be of sufficient Plore Gray Peak and the obelisk of interest that they will tell our Yothe range, Mt. Clark. Seasonal Notes on Yosemite Animals

DR. HAROLD C. BRYANT,

Gray Squirrels species They immediately show This is the first year that a half their dislike by lowered ears and by dozen or more gray squirrels have chasing the smaller species. been reported on the floor of the The gardeners at the Ahwahnee valley since their disappearance Hotel have found difficulty in keepabout six years ago. It will be reing deer out, in spite of a supposed membered that a serious disease, as ly deer-proof fence. the result of a skin mite, destroyed Deer are reported as more numerpractically all of the gray squirrels ous along the Tuolumne river than on the floor of the valley. Two at any time since the, foot and years ago a pair were reported near mouth disease control measures El Capitan Two or more reported were instituted in 1924 and more again last year in the same vicinity. than 20,000 deer were killed in the This year gray squirrels have been Stanislaus National Forest. seen near Cathedral Rocks and Marmots Mirror Lake William E Colby, secretary of the Chickarees have been unusually Sierra Club. has called attention to abundant and unusually tame this the disappearance of marmots in past year, On almost any mornthe Sierra Nevada He stated that ing's trip one of the red squirrels the Sierra Club in making the 1929 could be seen scurrying from tree trip from Huntington Lake up the to tree or in the tree-top It seems Muir trail to Tuolumne Meadows. reasonable to believe that with the failed to see a single marmot. On disappearance of gray squirrels the the back country trip of the Yochickaree has become most abundsemite School of Field Natural History on the floor of the valley. tory during August no marmots Mule Deer were seen at Merced Lake, where Deer continue very numerous and they are usually common, and on very tame. A few black-tailed deer the entire trip but one was ob- (recognized by their smaller size, served, that one near the top of shorter muzzle and ears, and black, Vogelsang Pass. It is certainly true well haired tail) have been noted that this animal ten years ago was on the floor of the valley this sumto be seen almost everywhere near mer. In each instance it has been the timber line. It was even conevident that mule deer dislike this mon in front of the Parson's Lodge

in Tuolumne Meadows, where now were occasionally reported by campit seems to have totally disappeared. ers in Camp 19. They were seen There are some still left near Tenalmost nightly during the latter aya Lake, where they have always part of August. been fairly abundant. The park Fish naturalist reported seeing four marAlthough no extra large fish have mots two miles west of Tenaya been reported as being caught in Lake on the Tioga road August 3. the Merced, yet the more skilled It is difficult to explain this disapfishermen have had no difficulty in pearance of this large mammal making good catches. Earlier in over much of the territory formerly the year splendid fishing was had occupied. Of course, it may be just below the power house. As in past a fluctuation in numbers. Certainyears Washburn Lake has furly a prolific breeder, it may be ex-niched excellent fishing in late pected that the high country will in summer. Likewise Dog Lake, Gaylor time become repopulated. Lakes and Young Lakes, in the Red Fox Tuolumne Meadows region, have Joseph Dixon photographed a red produced excellent fishing. The Lyfox near Saddlebag Lakes this past ell fork of the Tuolumne, the upper summer. A member of the Sierra part of Fletcher creek, Fletcher Club observed one and others were Lake and Townsley Lake were observed by rangers patrolling the closed this year to allow recuperanorthern part of the park. It is tion. By fishing deeply, fine pleasing to note that the red fox of catches have been made in Tenaya the Sierra Nevada is sufficiently Lake. There were a few Instances abundant within the park that sevwhere fish were taken by fly from eral have been observed during the this lake. past summer. In recent years two splendid exBadger amples of great improvement in lake fishing are to be noted OsCampers in Tuolumne Meadows trander Lake and Dog Lake four or have reported seeing several bad five years ago appeared to be fished gers this past summer. out. This year both of these lakes Pine Marten have furnished splendid sport. Al-Ralph Teall saw a pine marten tier creek was heavily fished this along the Tioga road about two year by a road crew so that late in miles west of Soda Springs. Anthe season it afforded very poor other one was observed near Tioga fishing near the Wawona road Lake by Mr. Lambert of the Tenaya However, the upper reaches of the Lake Lodge. stream above the falls furnished Flying Squirrel many good catches during the seaAs in past years flying squirrels son

RECENT MUSEUM ACCESSIONS

The Yosemite Museum, built in erosity of its friends for new exhi 1925 through the gift of the Laura bit material Through gifts and Spellman Rockefeller Memorial, deloans its nature library, its Mather ponds almost entirely upon the gencollection of historical material per

taining to Yosemite and the Sierras, ney's "Yosemite Guide Book of and its exhibits of early history and 1869." Indian materials are fast being The Yosemite Natural History built up. Even now, after only four Association presented "Promenade years occupancy of this new buildAutour du Monde," in two volumes. ing, park visitors are very much by Baron de Hubner, published in pleased with the story of Yosemite France, 1871, containing 30 pages as told by our exhibits. on Yosemite Some of the most recent acresMrs Albert Jannapolis of San sions are as follows : Francisco presented 43 very old Henry G. Peabody of Pasadena photographs of Yosemite scenes presented "Domes of Yosemite," a These were taken during the 70 's by framed enlargement made by car- George Fiske, one of the best of Yobon process of a photo taken by semite's early photographers him in 1901 He also presented R M Tapscott, member of Sierra "The Yosemite National Park," one of his illustrated lectures. Club, presented a skull of a young Arthur S. Rosenblatt of San mountain sheep found at Lyell gla Francisco, presented J D Whitcier.

YOSEMITE BIRD REPORT FOR SEPTEMBER

By Enid Michael In the Yosemite Valley the first blackbirds who formed a large per 18 days of September passed under centage of the summer population cloudless skies. The nights were had gone for a lark to the higher warm, the days were warmer. Then sections of the park. Actually on came the long hoped for change of many of our morning walks weather and the morning of the observations seemed to indicate nineteenth started off with a heavy that the California woodpecker was shower. Friday the twentieth was the most common bird. There was, an overcast day with threatening however, no apparent slump in the storm clouds which brought a jay population and as these birds heavy downpour late in the afterwere to be found in all sections of noon. Sheets of rain falling,on the the valley they were probably granite pavements above the rim more numerous than the California of the valley brought life to Yowoodpeckers, who confine their Semite Falls, but life only for a activities to the Kellogg oak groves few days. When the storm cleared While there was a falling off in once more came sunny days that the number of individuals during led away to the end of the month. the month the number of species After the storm the nights were held up well insomuch as there cool and on several occasions there were 60 listed. Erratic wanderings was frost on the early morning of individuals of certain species meadows. At the end of the month and the normal migratory move the first spangles of autumn color ments of other species helped to were showing in the exotic elms pad the September bird report. For along the village street, but the instance, the week beginning native trees for most part were still September 16 was a picture week in adhering to the spring color the valley. Among the regulars of fashion. the sparrow tribe there were eveEarly in the month the slump in ring grosbeak, California purple the bird population of the valley finch, green-backed goldfinch, chip became quite apparent. Robins and ping sparrow, Sierra junco, Sacra-

mento towhee and black-headed foliage sprays it was often difficult grosbeak. Besides the regulars to identify individuals as they flitthere was an influx of transient ted about among the leaves. We sparrows stopping for a few days did, however, manage to learn that en route to their winter homes. the majority of the warblers were Among the tourists of the tribe of the black-throated gray species. were white-crowned sparrow, LinOther warblers of the company coin sparrow, song sparrow and fox were positively identified as Audusparrow. Besides the above named bon, pileated, and in the lower sparrows there were two other shrubs under the oaks were two species which we could not posiyellowthroats. We were inclined to tively identify. One little brown believe that there were also Lutessparrow that kept in the close cent and Townsend warblers, and cover of the tall meadow grass we possibly a few Calaveras warblers are inclined to believe belonged to However, Townsend and Lutescent the race of Savannah sparrows are very rare warblers in Yosemite This bird would spring up suddenly valley and the Calaveras while com-from almost underfoot, a zig-zag mon in spring is not found in the

flight would carry him a hundred valley during the fall months. Rare yards across the meadow and then likewise are the yellowthroats, but he would dive once more to the the yellowthroats came close to us cover of grass. We never did get and spoke in their own peculiar clear views of this sparrow for al- manner. Had the other warblers ways he would spring up before we been as accommodating as yellowthroats there need have been no The unknown was represented by question of identity. four plump little sparrows about In the August bird report mention the size of song sparrows. Plain was made of the abundant food buffy white under bodies, tails very supply of berries and acorns. Well. much notched, outer tail feathers at the end of September we find apparently bordered with white, the berry crop almost completely brown streaked backs and wings consumed. The robins remaining in marked with whitish bars, no the valley have fallen back on dry marks of any sort on head or face fruit of the manzanita and the When seen these birds were sitting scanty crop of dogwood berries. The along on the fence wire and feed- band-tailed pigeons and the evening ing in the manner of fly-catching grosbeaks who consumed their full Audubon warblers. From the fence share of cherries and coffee berries they went to perch on dead twigs of have practically deserted the valan apple tree. From here they conley. The acorn crop that looked se tinued to dive into the air after in-promising on the Kellogg oaks dursects. When they left they flew ing August did not come up to exaway and were not seen again. pectations as many of the acorns During the last of the month a were worm-eaten and fell before migratory wave of warblers swept maturity. As it looks now many of through the valley The migrating the jays and woodpeckers may be warblers were found most commonly forced to leave the valley this win-in the oaks and as they confined ter, owing to a shortage of their their foraging mostly to the upper favorite winter food.

FAUNA AND FLORA REPORT FOR SEPTEMBER

By C. A. Harwell, Park Naturalist BEARS—Yosemite visitors have about the feeding tables on several been able to see black bears in occasions. The bears are more good numbers at the daylight feedhungry and seemingly more gentle ing platforms maintained by the than during the earlier months ranger department near El CapiThey are not only eating for the tan. As many as twelve have been present at this time of year but

seem to know that by about the They have never mated. middle of December they will need FISH — On September 30 the to find some rock shelter for the planting of fish from the Yosemite winter, where they will hibernate hatchery was completed for this for three or four months while year. The fish remaining will be deep snow covers them. They are held over through the winter in the attempting to put on a goodly sure outdoor retaining tanks. The plus of fat to carry them through troughs inside the hatchery are betheir long sleep and these feeding ing cleaned and will be painted, in tables, kept supplied with the preparation for the shipments of scraps from camps and hotels. they eggs soon to arrive. There has been have learned furnish a much an improvement this year in fish quicker means than the slow proplanting, due to the fact that the cess of gathering brown manzanita State Fish and Game Commission berries, trying to catch fish in the has turned over the entire matter river, digging termites from rotten of fish planting to the Yosemite logs, or searching valley and talus Ranger Department. slope for their natural food Their REPTILES — The eighth live rubinsistent search for food makes ber snake of this season was them very bold. They walk in and brought to the museum just a few among tourists and about the feed- days ago, September 23, and placed ing platforms searching people and in the exhibit case by Bob Selby cars for food. It seems remarkIt measured 23 inches in length and able that there are no serious acc was the largest specimen of the accidents reported Perhaps it is year. The next day it was gone cause the cubs, now approximately eight months old, are able to take Our only assumption is that, like pretty good care of themselves and seven others of its kind which have their mothers are more interested disappeared since June, it was in finding their own food than taken by someone interested in it they are in what eager visitors as a pet. During the six years of may be doing to get their babies intensive study of this region by to pose for "cute" pictures. Dr. Grinnell and party, prior to Regular bus trips to the bear 1920 they only encountered one rubpits after 9 o'clock were discon- ber snake in the Yosemite region. tinued about the middle of the This summer's record seems to inmonth by the Yosemite Park and dicate that, though tourist travel Curry Company, but the feeding has increased very greatly, this inunder electric lights has been kept teresting reptile has been able to up through the month. survive and seemingly increase in DEER—The mule deer continue numbers. On the other hand, the common on the floor of the valley, rattler is becoming increasingly The bucks have completed shedding scarce. velvet from their antlers, so that FLORA—Flowers have practical- they are now getting into fighting ly disappeared by the close of Sep

trim for the approaching mating tember. Fall colorings in trees are season. About September 25 the taking their place in giving variety first preliminary clash of antlers of coloring to the park. The green was noticed near the Ranger of the black oaks and maple is Club. The lighter coloring of gray softening toward yellow. Dogwood ish tan is fast being replaced by the is a blaze of color in oranges and darker bluish tinted winter coat reds. The ripening seeds with conCOYOTES — Coyotes have been trasting brilliant hues in rich clus-seen and heard several times dur- tors rival in beauty the showy ing the month along the Glacier white flowers of four months ago Point road. On several trips to outlying dis- MOUNTAIN LION — The two tricts the park naturalist has gath- mountain lions in the so-called ered seeds of sun-loving plants,

game continue in good con- which are being scattered about from the Yellow- the museum in an attempt to get ahead of the too numerous tramping of many feet