1934

Vol. x January 1 9 3 4 No.

THE PUBLICATION OF THE YOSEMITE NATURALIST DEPARTMENT AND THE YOSEMITE NATURAL HISTORY ASSOCIATION

Published Monthly Volume XIII January 1934 Number 1 A Winter Trip to Tuolumne Meadows

A. E. BORELL

Naturalist Every summer thousands of peoextra clothing, cooking utensils, ple enjoy the beauty of the Sierra rope, three ice axes and crampons Nevada, but relatively few know for mountain climbing. The packs them as they are during the winaveraged from 35 to 50 pounds ter. Those who visit the Sierra each. during the winter find them even We left the valley via the Snow more wonderful than in summer. Creek Trail and for eight days When I was given the privilege of were never off our skis or snowjoining a party going to Tuolumne shoes except when in camp. As Meadows I was glad to have the night overtook us we found a shelopportunity to learn more about tered place among the trees and winter camping and to become acprepared camp. First a hole about quainted with the High Sierra and five feet in diameter was scooped its animal life during mid-winter. out of the snow, in which a fire Our party was composed of Oiiwas built. The snow about the fire ver Kehrlein, Horace Breed, and was trampled down, making it poeBestor Robinson, Sierra Club memsible for us to walk about without bers and well experienced in winskis. Where the snow was too deep ter mountaineering; Di e,' Ch_c;c, to dig through, the fire was built Boynton Kaiser and Paul Ba.d.a n, on a layer of green boughs. The scout naturalists; Elliot Sawyer heel ends of the skis were forced and Bob Strong, older scouts; Rayinto the ground at an angle, formmend Gilmore and the writer. We ing a semi-circle on the windward assembled in Yosemite valley and side of the fire. Our ponchos were prepared for our 50-mile trip on then fastened together and skis and snowshoes to Tuolumne stretched over the skis, making a Meadows. Trapper Ne.son packwindbreak and shelter for the boards were loaded and each man night. While some of the party carried his sleeping bag, personal were making camp, the cooks were equipment and food for an e ightpreparing hot food and drink in day trip. In addition. there we-e billikans hung over the fire on two light axes, ponchos for shelter, poles stuck into the snow Boughs

were spread on the snow beneath marten. In most parts of California the shelter, on top of which we this fur-bearer is rare and may placed our sleeping bags, feet toeventually be exterminated, ward the fire. Putting on three so it is encouraging to know that pairs of dry woolen socks and a there are still a number in Yocouple of sweaters, we were ready sem'.te National Park, where they for the night. Our boots served as will receive permanent protection. pillows, which also helped to keep The tracks of white-tailed jackthem from freezing. Although the rabbits were quite common about temperature was little above zero Tuolumne M e ad ows, especially we usually slept warm and cornamong the trees. In a few places fortably. about logs and rocks we found The region was extremely be•urtracks of white-footed mice, and In tiful, weather and snow conditions one case a fox had stopped to inwere ideal for a ski trip and the vestigate mouse tracks. experience most interesting. TvMost of the birds, which are coinnaya lake was completely frozen man in the Sierras during summer. over. Great snow banners were flymigrate at the approach of winter ing from Mount Hoffmann, Moa.it but a few remain in spite of the Clark and other peaks. The huh_ deep snow and cold weather Se', Ming soda springs at Tuolumne era,l blue-fronted jays were seen be meadows offered a real treat as we low 7000-foot altitude Chickadees

had heel drinking melted snow were busy searching for insects since leaving Yosemite Valley. about the branches of lodgepole Water obtained by melting snow pines and hemlocks. A faint note over an open fire absorbs the un_ led us to a creeper which was pleasant taste of the smoke. To dis- "hitching" itself up the trunk of a guise this taste we added tea, dead tree. As usual Clark crows an coffee, or a fruit-flavored gelative nounced their presence with raucous to the water. calls. The most exciting obserra Although the only mammals seen tion came when we found a flock were two chickarees, tracks in the of Sierra crossbills foraging among snow made it possible to learn con the lodgepole pines in Tuolumne siderahle about the numbers, distriMeadows. Two hairy woodpeckers bution and behavior of several speand a red-breasted nuthatch w e ties. Tracks of a weasel leading also observed. from one stump to another indii We returned to the valley wit.hcaterl it was probably searching for out the slightest injury to any mice. Tracks of a bear told us that member of the party. Although the occasionally in mid-winter bears trip was strenuous, all of us felt come out of their hibernation dens well repaid in experience. llnd:•r and prowl about over the snow. expert leadership we learned someDuring the night when we were thing about how to travel in -vin camped on Snow creek we heard ter with heavy packs, how to nnssc something breaking into our food eorfort:rhle camps in the snow, suppl 'es. The next morning a,1 kinds of food and clothing to carry, fount teeth merles on several pack :rnrt something of the birds and ages which identified the vlxltnr i' mammals. It is unfortunate 111;ll rt mnrleo In Nr•ve1911 other phre.", route people Valiant

IIIOIH

n we eru•eo•d the boll„ left by the loins dating raid virile'. Ind Is•.

cause of real hazards involved no fawn, he made a wild leap into a one should attempt a trip away nearby gully, and jumped and slid from established shelters unless exto a thick growth of young trees tremely well prepared. Skiing conin which he instantly curled up and ditions are excellent above Yoremained motionless. Everything semite Valley during winter months happened with startling rapidity. and even through April regularly But the scene was not over, and organized ski trips are offered as I was determined to see the final part of the winter sports program act if at all possible. Accordingly of the Yosemite Winter Club. I hunted cover down wind on a Editors Note: This trip was made nearby slope and watched. I did not between December 26, 1932 and Janhave long to wait. The fawn finally decided that the danger was past. wary 2, 1933. and came back up the slope calling in a high-pitched little voice for his mother. To my delight, he stopped about 50 feet from me, where

A WOODLAND SCENE

he waited for his mother to appear. By RANGER RUSSELL GRATER During the next five minutes I was treated to a most interesting and Fortunate is he who has the opappealing scene. There was the portunity of hearing about some infawn, still nervous, carefully hidden from all preying eyes that might be teresting episode in nature, but up the slope, confidently waiting doubly fortunate is he who actually for his mother to come get him. I witnesses the scene as it is being couldn't help sympathizing with portrayed. the little fellow, and wishing that A few days ago, while following he might soon be united with his a ridge back of my ranger station family again. at Gentry, I suddenly heard the sound of some animal approaching The wish was soon fulfilled. The through a thick grove of small doe suddenly appeared on the slope and called. Instantly, with a glad trees ahead of me. I hastily stepped little cry, the fawn hurried to meet behind a tree to see what was malther. She gave him a couple of loving the noise. In a few seconds a fine big buck deer appeared proudmg caresses with her tongue and then tested the air, obviously very ly carrying a beautiful set of nervous. Looking back of her, I noantlers still in the velvet. He was ticed that the buck had appeared closely followed by a doe and a young fawn. The fawn was a tiny and was closely scrutinizing the region, so not wishing to alarm spotted youngster and very appealthem again, I remained motionless. ing. For about 10 seconds the trio Although they did not linger stood there facing me. Then as the long, but soon bounded away into doe suddenly scented me, she leaped into the air with a shrill, the forest, the memory of that whistling snort, and hounded away intimate contact with nature's most w up the slope. The buck wheeled graceful and appealing family will and dashed into the thicket Iris') stay with me for years to come. whi•n1•e he had eonU•. As for the

The Five Largest Big Trees By A. E. CO►►-EI,L, Civil Engineer The Grizzly Giant of the Marivolume place it us ona• of the five posa Grove of Big Trees in Yosem largest Sequoia. ite National Park has long been The Grizzly Giant stands in a considered one of the four largest class by itself in the Mariposa living Sequoia gigantea and prob Grove of some 600 great trees, not ably the oldest of these, since sciencounting thousands of young Setists agree that it carries more quoin_,. as if it might be a parent marks of great age than the Gentree to a host of colossal trees eral Sherman. General Grant and around it. No tree in the Grove of Boole trees, all of which are larger in any other grove of Sequoias, ap than the Grizzly Giant. Its age has pears so rugged, so ripe with age. been estimated at more than 3800 It is the most impressive tree of the years. forest. Following accurate measurements The thousands of visitors who recently made by a group of engi drive through this grove marvel at neers from Fresno, of the four the interesting view they receive as trees—General Sherman, General they make a turn after passing Grant, Boole and Hart--the engithrough the lower grove and find neering department of the National themselves suddenly in view of this Park Service undertook an equally stately monarch standing alone as careful survey of the Grizzly Giant. it is, seemingly a sentinel to the From the measurements, it was many immense trees in the upper found that while the Grizzly Giant grove. is not so tall as the four above menIt is the most precious of all our tioned tree;, its size, however, as trees in Yosemite Following re compared to mean diameters and ports of highest plant authorities volume, is equal to the others that the excessive tramping of the throughout the greater portion of soil abuse the shallow root struc. its height titre of the tree was lending Iii its Instead of Ihr Grizzly I :ianl hold destrnt tion, and that roads :aced)! lag Its plat, as tine of the lour not be loealed near Ih'' rents. land largest Ilting frees diameter and u•aplaf( him Mein dom. by plaatini;•.

The Grizzly Giant

Comparative Size of Sequoia Trees Measurements of General Sherman, General Grant, Boole and Hart trees as given in article herein quoted. (All measurements are in feet and cubic feet) Gen. Sherman Gen. Grant Boole Hart Grizzly Giant Height of top of trunk.... 272.4 267.4 268.8 277.9 209.0 Volume, excluding limbs... 49.600.0 43.038.0 39,974.0 32,607.0 30,300.0 Perimeter of base on slope.. 101.6 107.6 112.0 73.8 96.5 Mean diameter of restored base 30.7 33.3 33.2 26.5 27.6 Mean diameter at 60 feet 17.5 16.3 15.3 14.5 15.8 Mean diameter at 120 feet. 17.0 15.0 13.9 12.9 13.1 Height first large limb.... 129.9 129.8 126.0 95.4 Diameter of first large limb 6.8 3.2 6.0 around the tree to protect the roots ing elevations and diameters from and to keep visitors at a distance two or more sets of readings. A new road has been completed at A secondary traverse connected a distance therefrom, affording by tie to the first was run around views to passing motorists from the the base, from which direct meas most interesting points. urements were made, determining Transit points connected by trav the dimensions and elevations at erse from which the Grizzly Giant the ground line and horizontal sec was visible were selected around tions at and four feet above the the tree, at distances ranging behighest ground tween 230 and 400 feet from its Sectional areas were computed base, and their elevations deter from mean diameters for given mined from Bureau of Public Roads, heights determined by the angular datum. measurements and the.ohtme eons With transit on these points, eleputed therefrom by means of Prisvation angles were read at five-foot moidal Formula. In estimating vol intervals to a height of 25 feet. then lime, no restoration of h'u mned out at increasing intervals to the top; sections was made and all limbs and at each elevation so determined were eliminated. horizontal angles were taken to All field and office work was can each side of the trunk. It was not ried out by engineering methods and always possible to select sections at checked, insuring accurate results equal elevations from the various This tree, eliminating saw rips transit wants, brit suffieie'l b• er nnrl Icnl would make :10,600 ha-u srl vet limn were taken to permit check feet of lumber and would inclose

with one-inch lumber a hangar experience. We were loafing in the large enough to house the Akron. oak grove opposite the postoffice This tree is surprisingly circular enjoying the sunshine, when we in form above top o' butt swell at were suddenly startled by a strange height of nine feet, where it has a swish of sound--a reminiscent mean diameter of 20.50 feet, a sound, but for the moment mystiperimeter of 64.40 feet and a secfying. Then a flock of Clark crows tional area of 326 square feet. was seen settling in the dead top of The perimeter at ground line and a tall pine. Now the mystery was sections taken below top of butt solved and back across the years swell show a very irregular form our memory flashed to camping due partly to damage by fires at days at the head of Bloody canyon, some time long before discovery of It was late in September and the the grove. n'ghts at the 10,000-foot elevation While the tree gets its name from were getting cold. its old and grizzly appearance, its Each morning a company of top is well provided with limbs and Clark crows would wing upward new branches and foliage bearing from the canyon to the summit numerous clusters of new cones, all crags to greet the rising sun. Here promising a long continuation of its perched among the crags they distinction of being one of the old would exchange gossip in a coarseest living things on earth While voiced garrulous manner until the the extreme top is a limb without sun had reached the valley at the foliage, the foliage reaches to a base of the mountain. And then, height of only a foot or so below one after another, or in little flocks. the topmost point. the crows would take the long The tree has a natural lean in the plunge. With set wings, almost form of a uniform curve extending closed. they would whizz past our from the base to the top, where it camp dropping four or five thouleans south ll 5 feet and west 5 5 sand feet down the sheer east face feet. This lean, together with the of the mountain. Once or twice, or largest of the limbs which are on perhaps three times on their way the south side, causes the only has. down they would spread their wings and to the tree long continuing to and leap upward to break the terlice as evidenced by the healthy rifle speed. condition of its foliage, much of There was something peculiar which is on the north side balancand fascinating about the swish of ing the forces. sound that came from the bullet speeded dives of the Clark crows. Every morning while we were in the Bloody canyon camp we waited and watched for the thrilling dive of the Clark crows and now. a'. t• years, the sound of whistling tenth ers we have heard again. It is very unusual to find these birds this low in Yosemite.

CLARK CROWS IN YOSEMITE VALLEY

By CHARLES W. MICHAEL. Assistant Postmaster, Yosemite National Park (I. :r•nday. October 15, Mrs. '1rt hail rod I had an intension.;

Old Friends From Afar By CARL AND HELEN SHARSMITH Yosemite's mountains are never any doubt in our minds. far from the thoughts of those who The sheer southwest face of Conintimately know her many peaks. ness was unmistakable, and Dana However vividly they present themwe would know anywhere. Soon selves in mental picture, remote and we could dimly discern Dana even distant they seem in actuality when without the glasses. The identity the mountain lover becomes a jaded of all the others now came quickly city dweller. —Kuna Crest, Mount Maclure, Driving to the top of Mount DiMount Lyell, the pyramidal form of able on November 12, we left our Mount Florence and Mount Rodgcar and the mountain-top full of ers, and a little to the front the "city folk," climbed down the steep Clark range, with Mount Clark, northeast slope and up to the de Red, Gray and Merced peaks. Fiserted top of North Peak, a subnally, far to the north, we located sidiary mountain some 3560 feet Tower Peak, the northern boundary high. A vast panorama confronted of Yosemite National Park. Had us, The day was not clear, yet the lower reaches of the range been through the low-lying haze we could free of haze, we felt we might have distinguish, in the Coast Ranges, seen Cloud's Rest, or perhaps Half Mount Tamalpais and Mount St. Dome. One hundred and thirty Helena to the north, Mount Hamilmiles away by air-line, yet here ton to the south. These three peaks, were Yosemite's peaks, as together with Diablo, constitute the ally familiar as if we were actually major prominences in the central among them. And so indeed we el ' Coast Ranges. To the east below ourselves to be. us lay the great valley, the tentacled arms of its two huge drainage systems, the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers. soon lost in the murky haze. But far beyond the great valley. rising above the fog, lay clearly visible the Sierran crest. Without realizing what would be in store for us, we pointed the binoculars approximately Yosemiteward, and searched the horizon. Moments passed. A clustered group of saw toothed peaks took on excitingly familiar form. It couldn't be -yet. swinging a few degrees toward the north, a bold round mountain, rising free and isolated, made us intensify our search. When a little farther north we beheld the precipitous craggy face and square summit of another, there was no longer

A. E. BORELL JOINS STAFF

Yosemite is happy to announce the appointment of Adrey E. Borell as Jr. Park Naturalist to fill the position of Museum Preparator left vacant by the transfer of Cliff Presnall to the Park Naturalist position at Zion National Park. Mr. Borell brings to this work a wide background of experience. He has served on our Ranger-Naturalist staff the past three summers. He is a graduate of the University of California with a Masters degree in the field of mammalogy. He has done extensive field and technical work with the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology at the University.

Digitized by Yosemite Online Library Dan Anderson