December 1929

The Yosemite Museum Volume Viii

DECEMBER,

1929 Number

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

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

Published monthly Volume VIII December 1929 Number 12 The Lost Arrow Nature Trail By Clifford C. Presnall During the past few years the naIt is with one of these experimenlure trail idea has gained considertal trails that this paper deals. able impetus, and is now being used A signed nature trail Is nothing at several state and national parks. more nor less than a pathway or In the Yosemite National Park such roadway Ieading through some ina trail had been made in the sumteresting bit of wilderness and mer of 1927 and had proved quite posted with signs which explain satisfactory in spite of its very various natural features in an intemporary nature. At the opening teresting and instructive manner. of the 1929 session of the Yosemite The purpose of such a trail is to School of Field Natural History, provide nature guidance for the Park Naturalist C. A. Harwell sugpublic at all times of the day, and gested that several such trails in as large or small doses as they should be made in an effort to may wish, without the necessity of learn the best methods to employ assembling them in groups and furin constructing a permanent trail. nishing a guide to lead them. Editor 's note Each of the twenty students en- "Some Minor Geological Features of rolled in the Yosemite school of Yosemite," "Bird Songs of Yofield natural history, conducted by semite, " "Luipnes of Yosemite," the education department of Yo- "Some Insects Found in Dead Semite National Park for a sevenWood," "Tree Associations," and week period each summer, Is rethe "Educational Work in Yoquired to choose and complete some semite." Two students, Miss Lois research problem in Yosemite natBallou and Sumner L. Evans, built ural history Among the problems a rock garden at the northwest coror projects selected during the past ner of the museum, which at the summer, the following eight are present time is growing nicely and typical The Lost Arrow Nature promises to be quite an attraction Trail," "The Spray Nature Trail." by next summer

I10

In casting about for a suitable 10were found along the trail that it cation for such a trail it was found was thought best to prepare only that less than half a mile from the as many signs as would be necesYosemite Museum there is a cool, sary to preserve the continuity of delightful area of woods and the route to be followed. After a streams through which part of the careful preliminary survey, sixtyLost Arrow Trail winds its way. five signs were written and posted The road leading from the mualong the trail. In addition to these seum to the beginning of this trail explanatory signs, fifteen "question has several interesting features mark" signs were placed on trees along it, and the trail itself is reand shrubs that had been named in plete with nature lore material. The some one of the explanatory signs; total distance covered by both road thus, whoever wished to test his and trail is but little over a mile, knowledge might answer these therefore It was thought that the questions from information already two could be combined to form a gleaned along his walk. At the short nature trail leading direct lower, or Yosemite Lodge end of from the back door of the museum. the trail a large sign was placed, The trail, as thus planned, would stating the purpose of the trail. No terminate on a roadway leading to such sign was placed. at the muthe foot of Yosemite Falls, and seum end of the trail, it being would be very close to the Yosemite thought that the museum attendant Lodge with its many tourist guests. could direct people better than any In order to make the trail, reasonprinted notice, ably permanent and attractive, It The most noticeable features was suggested that the signs should. along this trail were the trees and be made of white celluloid having shrubs, fourteen; species being a roughened surface that would noted. There were also several wild take ink readily. The park service flower gardens, and many miscelfurnished a supply of such tags laneous objects of interest, but measuring three by five inches, there was very little geological mawhich were thick enough to be used terial. Most of the signs were, without backing of any kind. The therefore, of a „botanical nature, tags were punched to permit atfour had reference to passing intaching them to trees or stakes. sects and birds, and only two called India ink was used in lettering attention to geological features of them. The wire stakes to which the valley walls. With but two exsome of the tags were attached ceptions, all the signs were explanawere made of ten gauge wire. bent tory (omitting the ' "question" to form a rack or holder. With the signs). One requested in an indirack set at an' angle, the cards were rect manner that the observer held so as to be easily read without should not trample on the wild stooping, and at the same time flowers,.and the other was a quowere visible from a distance along tation from John Muir regarding the trail. Somewhat similar wire the Yosemite Falls, which were racks were made for mounting visible from the point at which it cards on large trees, where a long was posted. Most of the botanical encircling cord would be too consigns carried both common and scispicuous. entific names, but there were a So many interesting features good many that simply directed at.

I II.

tention to peculiar habits of though many persons did express growth, decay or living conditions some doubt as to the value of the of the vegetation. All the signs question mark signs. Among those were made as short and concise as of high school age, and even grampossible without sacrificing necesmar school age, there was no doubt sary detail. Often they carried as to the satisfactory response. leading questions to stimulate Most children seemed to take great thought as to the why and wheredelight in naming the trees, often fore of things. As an example, inmaking a little game of it among stead of saying "This Is a red fir themselves and naming not only (Abies magnifica) and it is found those tagged with signs but all the in the higher hills in most cases, " new ones they came to. In one the sign reads, "Do the needles on family group the children showed this tree look like those on the great eagerness and excitement as white fir to the right? This is a they ran from sign to sign. The red fir that has strayed down from mother shared their enthusiasm to its natural home on the higher quite an extent, but the father mountains." walked along with a very bored air, Since this trail was essentially an hardly glancing at anything. experiment, considerable time was One valuable criticism of the spent in ascertaining the reaction trail as a permanent feature was of the public to it. Many persons that the flower labels required frewho had traveled over it were inquent changing, the wilting flowers terviewed, and several parties were occasionally leaving a stake standpersonally conducted over it in an ing out in space with nothing effort to learn its educational value around it that fitted the wording The latter method of research was of the label. If the trail were to unsatisfactory, however, as it did be made permanent, the flower not allow the trail to speak for itsigns could still be of a temporary self, and any deficiencies in the innature, providing they were policed formation on the signs were supevery week and necessary changes plied by the guide. The most illumimade. On a nature trail there are nating method of study was done always some features that are ternafter the manner of Sherlock porary, such as flowers, fungi and Holmes. The observer would walk insect homes. Many of these feaalong the trail as an ordinary tures are so interesting that it sightseer or tourist mingling and would be quite inadvisable to omit talking with any individuals whom them. It would seem that a corn he might encounter. Some very bination of permanent and temfrank criticisms were obtained in porary signs could be worked out this way. One elderly lady cornso as to include all the objects of plained bitterly against the "clues_ interest along the trail. tion mark" signs, saying that she The "double ended" nature of was not used to working crossthis trail increased the difficulty word puzzles. She thought every of placing signs properly, pa stein new tree should be accurately lalarly the question mark signs The beled with its name only, omitting policy followed in constructing the all the "confusing " questions as to trail was to give the information its age, manner of growth, etc. This first and ask the question later was a very uncommon criticism, alIf traffic had been in one direc

I12

tion only, one information sign spicuous sign at that end. Some would have sufficed for each quesothers started at the museum end, tion sign, but with people apfollowing directions given by the proaching the questions from both museum attendant. A great many directions, it was necessary to place more would have started at this two information signs for each end if a notice had been placed question, one on each side of it. where it could have been read by The information signs were usually the large number of people who only a few rods from their respecdaily visited the museum, many of tive question signs, thus making whom never came in direct conreference to them easy. In a few tact with the attendant. Many percases it was impossible to have sons simply difted onto the trail two information signs for a quesat some intermediate point, foltion due to the scarcity of some lowed it a short ways, and drifted particular species.. The double off again. It was from this class ended character of the trail was that most of the questions came the cause of some confusion among as to the nature, purpose or value tourists, together with the fact of the trail. that a bridle path crossed the foot By far the majority of all perpath at one end in such a way as sons interviewed concerning the to lead some off the signed trail. trail expressed themselves as well An ideal nature trail should start pleased with it, although twentyat one point, circle back to nearly five per cent of this majority the same point, permit of one way thought it might be well to distraffic only, cross no other trails pense with the question tags. It or roads, and should lead through was quite evident that most of grassy, rocky or shrubby country these people were stimulated to so as to confine the traffic quite new thought and interest in nature. closely to the trail. The Lost Arrow Even to those who knew the names trail leads through bare forest floor of most of the tagged objects, the most of the way and is not parsigns often presented some sideticularly well defined to city bred light or new angle of thought. This eyes. was the real purpose of the whole Most people naturally started over trail; not to simply name a series this nature trail from the end of natural history specimens, but nearest the Yosemite Lodge, and to interest people in the workings were properly directed by the conof nature. Moist Rock Garden at Yosemite Museum By Sumner L. Evans It was our intention to construct a very important use in contributa practicable. life-like moist rock ing to the knowledge of what the garden, making it principally for a 'rock-garden that we'll have some museum piece. While the present day' should be. This latter use will garden is certainly not an architecbe discussed later. Until that dream tura] asset to the museum. and cancomes true, this garden fulfills its not be more than temporary, it has purpose—a fair reproduction of liv

ing, moisture and shade-loving thermore, the pipe is threaded, so plants in their natural conditions. that if in the future it becomes Our initial task was the hauling necessary, a spray-head may be in of about six carloads of rocks, all put in. the way from fifty-pound boulders The small pond in the middle to small round pebbles. We used tier is for swamp plants, and variathe Dodge 3i'a-ton truck in doing this tion in design. The two principal and our gratitude for its use must tributary channels to the "lake.' be borne in mind—we could not are concrete. There is an underhave done without it. The largest lying distributing plate of concrete boulders were used for the bulwark beneath the meadow; and all conof the lower tier. crete work is reinforced with heavy In looking about for soil, we screen to resist cracking. Furtherchose a reddish-black loam from more, all pieces are separate from some pits in Sentinel meadows, the rocks, so that what little setwhich have been extensively worktling may come to these, will not ed before for similar purposes. This strain or affect the concrete work. loam holds the mosture excellently. We intend the rock-garden to resists rain-wash to an extent bebe an indication of what may be yond our hopes, and is ideal fooddone in selecting the plants for material. the real rock-garden of the future The counter-action of heat was One may call our effort an experithe problem we worried most about mental station for the future There Finally, it was decided to tempoare several plants'which have some rarily protect the garden by use of from Eagle Peak meadows, Glen burlap—while the permanent shade Aulin, and other locations away will be made by the planting of from the valley floor. If these trees, which has been promised by plants will grow, still another key Mr. Wosky for this fall. The sun as to future possibilities will be bakes this location taided by radifurnished. These are the flowers ation from the walls) about three and plants we have used : Common to four hours daily in mid-summer, polypody, lady fern, arnica, enand, of course, this had to be nearly chanter's nightshade, sedge, grape eliminated The present surroundfern, white violets, lichen, rice ing tangle of grass should help in grass, horse trail, blue violets, epimaintaining a fairly moist and cool lobium, St. John's wort, wormwood. condition. A pipe was laid about resurrection moss, birds-foot fern twelve inches deep, running from a white rein orchis, ginger, rattlesub-outlet at the southwest corner snake plantain, leopard lily, blue of the museum up to the apex of bell, columbine, wood fern, camas the garden. The topmost tier is Iily, alum rood, sedum, five-finger meant to represent a meadow, but fern, red and yellow mimulus its utilitarian purpose is to act as a penstemon and fragile fern. distributing plate for the outlet just And finally, we hope all Che mentioned. The theory is that with ranger-naturalists will use the gara small though constant outlet of den for keeping living specimens water at the apex, the entire garden cannot really dry out, since motsof this plant-type for use in the ture is easily carried and held by nature walks and experiments of this soil and the plants in it. Furtheir own

Yosemite Flora and Fauna Report for October By C. A. Harwell, Park Naturalist On October 3 Fox Movietone outwas not determined. Only one posifit was in the valley to take pietive record of a bear returning to the tares of our Yosemite bear and to place where trapped has been notrecord their voices if possible. The ed_ A mother, whose eight-monthspark naturalist, assistant park natold cub was left behind, came back uralist and Ranger Reymann aswithin a few hours. sisted them at the bear pits. A A half-grown bear, lassoed by generous quantity of food and someone about the time of Indian sweets was taken along to attract Field Days, had a bell fastened to the bear before the microphone. his neck, which he still carries. His Nineteen bears were present before wanderings throw some light on the the party was over and the cubs movement of bear. Twice during proved especially good performers. the middle of the month he was noSome good information regarding ticed at Sinclair Point. Having a Yosemite and method of handling surplus of bears there already, men the bear situation was talked into about the hotel promptly chased the microphone by the park naturhim down the Ledge trail, up which alist. he had probably traveled. Soon It was interesting to note that after he was observed about his old 17 of the 19 bears present were of haunts on the valley floor. the "cinnamon" color phase and By a conservative estimate there only two, one massive male and one are 35 bears now in Yosemite valsmall cub, were "black" Tn a study ley. of the Yosemite bear, as reported Bears are doing their full share on page 64 of "Animal Life in the to assist in the harvesting of the Yosemite, " by Grinnell and Storer, acorn crop. The close of October they saw no cinnamon colored bears marks the height of the season. Loat all during the five or six years cal Indian women and children, CaIspent in the region. Certainly now ifornia woodpeckers, blue-fronted black bear of the distinct black coljays, Sierra chickarees, mule deer, or phase are very scarce on the band-tailed pigeons, California floor of the valley. ground squirrels and Mariposa In order to control the bear popchipmunks are all joining in the ulation on the floor of the valley harvest. an ingenious trap on trailer wheels Deer are still very common on the has been built at the shops. Offloor of the valley. Deer season has fending bears are easily lured into closed, with no reports of hunters this trap by bacon bait. Ranger poaching within the park boundBill Reymann hooke it to the back cries. The herds have not yet brokof a government car, drives it on en up; bucks are still running more the scales for weighing, then onto or less peacefully together. This the feeding platform at ElCapitan, month they have, been observed where the trap is opened. As the feeding on acorns from the ground. bear emerges, a daub of white paint This has gotten them into trouble is administered with' a long-handled along the highway. Several of them brush, a note is made of color phase have been struck by passing autoand, if possible, of sex. This trap mobiles. Pavements are so slick was put into operation October 12 the surprised deer slips and falls at the incinerator, where eight quite easily On October 15 the park were caught and transported the naturalist observed 26 deer within first day. 50 yards of the Yosemite schoolThe trap is not continuously set, house at 8 :30 a. m., just as children Up to October 28, H. bears have were gathering for school been caught. One was "black," one October 26, "Jigge." a very dark brown and 12 were "cinnafriendly one -year old buck, entered men." Three were females, three the Museum while all was quiet and were males, while the sex of eight found a vase of white and b)ue

IIS

flowering ceanothus integerrimus observed were in fine condition. and ceanothus parvifolius exhibited Steps have been taken to preserve on one of the counters. The smell two famous trees of Yosemite. The of deer brush had evidently attractgiant yellow pine near Sentinel ed him. He was surprised to find Rock, on the floor of the valley, this shrub in bloom during October, now in its old age, has been injured but the temptation was too strong. by the close packing of soil at its He tipped over the vase and base by the thousands of automobrowsed on the sweet leaves and biles that have driven over the road stems. As the park naturalist came which circles it. This condition has down the stairs, "Jiggs" was standbeen remedied this month. The soil lug in the front door of the Museum has been loosened, new soil has finishing one of the specimens. He been hauled in and spread, and the was entirely unabashed and unroad relocated so that machines afraid and insisted on going back cannot drive about it. to finish up his find. The wind-blown Jeffrey pine atop The tule elk herd of 21 animals Sentinel Dome will have its exposed in the paddock continues in good roots covered with humus and condition. The nine cows and three granite and an effort will be made calves have been kept closely guard to keep people from climbing it or ed from the other eight bulls of the mutilating its bark by carving iniherd by the "Sultan " He has been tials. A suitable sign will be placed able to hold his strong position for at its base and a register, suitably the past three months. enclosed, will be tried. It is hoped Jay C. Bruce, official state lion the desire to write a name will be hunter for California, was in the satisfied by this outlet. If protectpark October 25 and 26. An undered, this sturdy tree will make good standing was reached that he might progress in healing its many scars. follow the tracks of a Museum ikon he was trailing with his dogs across An azalea planted at the front of our boundary into the park. Mr. the Museum, feeling the warmth of Bruce estimates there are not more these Indian summer days and we,than 15 mountain lions in the Yotered by Bob Selby, has been in

semite National Park. bloom all during the month This Several California gray foxes is not a month for flowers. Doghave been reported about the vatwood, maples, young trees of the ley this month October 22 Ranger black oak, willows and azalea have Mernan saw two near Mirror lake. been a blaze of color, their yellows Gray squirrels have been seen at and reds sharply contrasted against El Capitan, Cascade creek and backgrounds of evergreen pines and along the Wawona road. Those firs and gray granite cliffs.

YOSEMITE BIRD REPORT FOR OCTOBER

By Enid Michael The weather in Yosemite valley and the two imported maples—were during the month of October was showing in their foliage 'glorious just about perfect. There was a splashes of autumn color. One elm slight shower on the seventh, then and one locust were in full panoply followed a few days of sunshine and of golden color: They were the shadow, but for the greater part leaders of the fall fashion parade of the month the days were balmy while the more modest trees hesiand the nights were not especially tated to join the march in a full cold. It might be said that it was parade of color. The two maples the normal weather that made were the last of the exotics to join October the most delightful month the fashion show, but when they In all the year. did decide to come out in gay colors At the beginning of the month, they were more daring than the the exotics--the elms, the locusts, leaders. Brilliant hues of red-gold

and crimson flared a contrast to lash, corethrogyne filaginifolia, Yothe more modest yellows. semite aster, brickellia, gnaphalium The first of the native trees to and ericameria—all members of the show color were the maples that sunflower family. Also there were hung high up on the south wall. zauschneria and eriogonum. Early in the month from their Ornithologically this October eerie they began to flash the month was especially interesting on autumn message to the backward account of the presence of three trees on the valley floor. By the different species of birds that had middle of the month, the oaks and not previously been reported from cottonwoods waved back their first Yosemite valley. These birds were gesture of response. American merganser, California When the morning sun of Octolinnet and phainopepla. Regarding ber 17 sent long slanting rays into the species whose names for the the valley, the Kellogg oaks took first time appear on the Yosemite on their first flush of autumn color. bird report, it might be said that For days there had been spangles it is not so remarkable that they of golden leaves among the green, should now appear as that they but this morning whole crowns have never appeared before. The glowed mellow in the sunlight. On linnet and the phainopepla are the morning of October 18 an oak resident down the Merced canyon was noted at the far endof Sentiand the merganser is known to nel Meadow that had almost cornnest in the Sierra. pleted its transformation from Besides the above mentioned spegreen to gold. Now, too, the dogcies, there were 57 other species woods were aflame in the dark noted during the month, which coniferous forests. Sweeps of brought the number up to 60, or 12 foliage fire; how gaily do the dogabove the October average of the woods take their last fling before last 10 years. The least number entering the drab and cold existof species noted for October was ence of the winter months. In 33 in 1921—the greatest number spite, however, of the wonderful 68, for October, 1928. show of certain individual trees, In spite of the fact that this when the month drew to a close October's number was well above the valley had not reached the full the average, there were certain bloom of autumn color, for as a species of birds that we had looked whole the oaks, the willows and upon as regular October visitors the cottonwoods still seemed relucwho failed to appeal' Among these tant to join the parade. were mallard. bushtit and solitaire. After weeks of rainless weather Each ensuing year mallard ducks and with the valley calmly settled have been represented in the Yornto the brown October days, one semite by fewer numbers and would hardly expect to find wild therefore it is not surprising that flowers blooming. However, at the they should become absolutely lackend of the month a remarkable ing. The solitaires, owing to the perfect weather, are probably still habitat group of late blooming feasting on juniper berries and plants were still in full flower on mistletoe berries in the "back the acres that sweep up from country,' We have no theory to Rocky Point. The more prominent account for the absence of the plants taking part in this October bushtits In former years they garden show were Senecio dougere considered as resident birds