August 1949

YOSEMITE

Nature

VOL. XXVIII AUGUST, 1949 NO. 9

—N.P.S.

Photo—Anderson Left to right—bottom row : Hakala, Reifschneider, Murphy, Barnes, Migliazzo. Second row: Grimes, Diamond, Simonian, Donaghue, Corbin, Massey. Third row: Vessels, Roberts, Downing, Naramore, Robinson.

ROSTER OF THE 1949 YOSEMITE SCHOOL OF FIELD NATURAL HISTORY

Kathleen E. Barnes, Route 6, Box 606, Fresno, California—Teacher Duane L. Corbin, 520 Johnson Street, Gary, Indiana—Naturalist Rudolph Diamond, 639 St. Lawrence Avenue, Bronx 61, New York—Research Walter R. Donaghue, 913 Alena Drive, Honolulu, Hawaii—Research George L. Downing, 1118 Short Street, Galena, Kansas—Teacher Peter S. Grimes, 37 Loyola Terrace, San Francisco 17, California—Teacher-Student Robert D. Hakala, Route 2, Box 120, Ironwood, Michigan—Naturalist Hugh Massey, Box 76, Berkeley, California—Counselor Charles J. Migliazzo, 6706 Parmelee Ave., Los Angeles 1, Calif.—Teacher Marjorie L. Murphy, 335 President Ave., Fall River, Massachusetts—Child Education Robert S. Naramore, Penryn, California—Student Mrs. Olga Reifschneider, 624 John Fremont Drive, Reno, Nevada—Education —Community Service William B. Roberts, 1011 South Fremont Street, Alhambra, California— Engineer of Mines Richard H. Robinson, 949 South Hudson Avenue, Los Angeles 6, California —Wildlife Biologist Simon Simonian, 522 M Street, Fresno, California—Teacher Robert Vessels, Box 242, Big Bear Lake, California—Teacher

THE MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE YOSEMITE NATURALIST DIVISION AND THE YOSEMITE NATURAL HISTORY ASSOCIATION, INC.

C. P. Russell, Superintendent D. E. McHenry, Park Naturalist H. C. Parker, Assoc. Park Naturalist R. N. McIntyre, Asst. Park Naturalist

VOL. XXVIII AUGUST, 1949 NO. 9 THE FIRST CROSSING OF THE SIERRA NEVADA

By Peter Snook Grimes, Field School, 1949 It is hard to realize, when con- by the Spanish civil authorities. fronted by early California coloniza- Though Smith and his party were tion by the Spanish, that the Sierra ordered to leave California via their Nevada was first explored and original route, he had no intention crossed by an American, Jedediah of doing so. He had heard from In- Strong Smith. The best evidence to dians that beaver were abundant to date indicates that Smith, and his the north. In January of 1827 they party of fur trappers, crossed the left the mission and the kindly fa- Sierra Nevada in the region 25 to 30 thers and traveled northward, over miles north of Yosemite Valley, fol- Tehachapi Pass and into the Central lowing the course of the Stanislaus Valley. River. The party traveled along the San Jedediah Smith had engaged in Joaquin River, encountering many the western fur trade during the friendly Indian villages. They early decades of the nineteenth trapped beaver on the tributaries of century. He had also become one of the San Joaquin and Smith comthe foremost frontiersmen of the time. mented that they found "Elk, deer, Seeking richer trapping regions to and antelope in abundance. " the west he organized a party of fur Smith attempted to cross the Sierra trappers with California as their des- Nevada during the month of January tination. 1827 in the vicinity of the Kings His party left the Great Salt Lake River; but the winter snow prevented in 1826. Up to this time absolutely their passage. He did not know that nothing was known about the region this was the most rugged region of between Salt Lake and the Central the range. Continuing northward in Valley of California. By traveling search of an eastward crossing the continuously west, and following di- party came to the American River. rections given by the Southwest In- Again Smith attempted the Sierra dians who had contact with the Nevada, but failed. Spanish, they reached the San Gab- Because the land was virgin and riel Mission in southern California the game abundant they spent much after grueling hardships, not the of their time trapping and caused least of which was thirst. the Spanish much consternation by They were welcomed by the Span- staying in the region so long. Hisish missionaries but coldly received torians think that the Spanish came Cover Photo: On the Floor of Yosemite Valley. By Ansel Adams from "Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada," text by John Muir, 64 photographs by Ansel Adams. Reproduced by kind permission of Houghton Mifflin Company.

to call the American River the "Rio to form a new party to succor those de los Americanos" because of their left in California. presence. References In May of 1827 the party returned 1. Farquhar, Francis P. "Jedediah to the San Joaquin Valley and Smith and the First Crossing of the camped on the Stanislaus River. Sierra Nevada." Sierra Club Bulletin, There Smith left most of his men Vol. XXVIII, No. 3. (A thorough bi and crossed the Sierra Nevada, with bliography on Jedediah Smith will two of the party, somewhere in the be found in this reference.) 2. Sullivan, Maurice S. "Jedediah vicinity of Sonora Pass. With much Smith, Trader and Trailbreaker." difficulty and near starvation they 3. Neihardt, John G. "The Splendid reached the Great Salt Lake, there Wayfaring."

TWO FLATLANDERS IN THE HIGH COUNTRY

By Geo. L. Downing, Field School, 1949 We had been given to understand and before starting up we filled our that from Clouds Rest on is strictly canteens and took a long cool drink mountaineering country. Bob Vessels from the mountain spring beside the and I don't consider ourselves experts. On our way up we spotted a perts but after successfully attack- western wood peewee perched atop ing Clouds Rest we feel we aren't the dead trunk of a red fir. After obnovices anymore. serving him through glasses and On Sunday morning, July 3, 1949, recording it, we continued. after camping out with the other Soon we heard an unfamiliar three in our party near the foot of the "rumpf, rumpf, rumpf, rumpf." We Half Dome-Clouds Rest Trail, we be- stopped and looked around. Not an gan our climb. Along the trail, animal was in sight. No other sound shaded by incense-cedars, Jeffrey could be heard except that drumpine and red fir, we stopped occa- ming, resonant "rumpf." Sierra sionally to admire the azalea, which grouse, we thought, but where was was in full bloom and fed upon by he? We walked off the trail in what sphinx moths, and listen to the beau- we thought was the direction of the tiful song of the first hermit thrush noise. Suddenly we realized that the we had heard since being in Yo- drumming noise was no longer in semite. Mountain chickadees sang their distinctive song of fee-bee-bee, fee-bee-bee all along the trail. We recorded our first Oregon junco just before we hit the fork. After branching off for the final four and eighttenths miles to the top we passed a clump of snow manzanita and heard the fox sparrow singing lustily, was impossible to catch the barest crawling down the trunk of a tall glimpse of the bird that was such an Jeffrey pine a pygmy nuthatch went adept ventriloquist. By this time we about his endless hunt for the small knew it to be a Sierra grouse. insects and larvae that are found Not wanting to spend more time on its bark. looking for the grouse but eager to The trail began a steep incline continue our trip to the top we front of us but almost directly behind us, in the direction from which we had just come. We were befuddled. Where could he be? The sound came first from a clump of azalea, then to one side in the middle of some manzanita and again to our left behind a fallen pine tree. It

stopped our search and followed on gloriously worthwhile, struggle upup the trail. For fully half a mile we ward. heard all about us the ghostlike What a magnificent panorama "rumpf, rumpf, rumpf" but never did spread before us! In all directions we see the bird. the view was incomparable. Clouds Soon we reached the continuous nestled snugly among the mountain series of switch-backs which are peaks. The day was clear and the found on any steep mountain in- sun was bright but the prominent cline. The trail was well defined and features of Yosemite Valley were in good condition. shrouded in a misty haze. Tenaya While we stopped to rest and were Lake was visible in the distance, looking up toward the top of the huddled like a great blue gem in trail we saw a mule deer doe bound- the mountains. We sat in silence, ing away from us through the low- failing to find words to express our growing manzanita. What a thrill it feelings at the lovely expanse of is to see these animals in the truly wonderful mountainous country. wild state, fleeing from man instead We signed the Sierra Club log of mincing daintily up to him to take book which is located on top in a candy and fruit right out of his hand! metal receptacle. Sharing our only We started again on our upward food, a chocolate bar, we began our climb and an awe-inspiring view of descent. The downward trip was the Sierras began to unfold. Snow- without event. We were tired and covered peaks sprawled across the not a little hungry. We were also horizon. The view surpassed any we very eager to get to our camp and had yet had. While we were still soak our feet in the cool water beexclaiming over the beauty of the fore packing our gear and hiking distant mountains we saw a red- back to the valley and Camp 19. The tailed hawk riding high in lazy cir- trip from the summit of Clouds Rest cles over the valley below. This to our overnight spot in Little Yohawk was also recorded on our bird semite took one and one-half hours. list. We arrived there at two-thirty in the Negotiating switch-back after afternoon. switch-back, we made our way up After resting and eating a light the mountain. We were beginning to lunch we packed our gear and, with tire but Clouds Rest was so close the three who had remained behind, and that was an incentive. We fin- started our descent into Yosemite ally reached what we thought was Valley. We followed the horse trail our goal, a flat granite shoulder high from Nevada Fall and made good on the side of the trail. We breathed time. Crossing the Vernal Falls a sigh of relief. Then we looked at a Bridge we were gaped at by the vasign on a Jeffrey pine—"Clouds Rest, cationists whose looks seemed to 0.6 mile"! We began our trek again. say, "What manner of animal is The trail was faint, proof enough that this that comes from out the mounfew people had gone beyond this tains—hot, dusty and tired?" point. This last part of the trail was Eventually we trudged on into the most rugged and much of it was Camp 19 and were showered, fed marked by the usual three stones, and rested by seven o'clock that one placed on top of the other. At evening. In retrospect we feel that last we reached the top. It was the no experience surpasses that of culmination of our hot and tiring, but ascending Clouds Rest. Remember-

ing the view from the summit we Sierra Nevada is called The Range now readily understand why the of Light.

SHY GUYS

By Simon Simonian, Field School, 1949 The gnawed bark of fir trees in Our next step was to get it down the Yosemite Museum Garden into the ground. Two of the party indicated the presence of porcupines. climbed the tree with a barrel in an Although the garden is provided for attempt to induce the porcupine into visitors to acquaint them with the it. While they were in the tree I was various trees and plants of the Yo- directly below them with the light. semite region, in this case "visitors" Bending down to avoid the low did not mean porcupines. Since the branches of the young pine tree and animals were damaging the trees, it holding my flashlight up, I expected was necessary to remove them to the two in the tree to capture the another area. animal. With this thought in mind, Assistant Park Naturalist, McIn- I was startled to hear an object tyre, upon discovering the gnawed s- swish by my face, fall with a bark on the trees, set out in search "plop," and give forth a sound like of the quilled quadrupeds. The first "boop." The poor little fellow had night's search did not produce any decided to let go of the tree and tangible results. thus fell to the ground, narrowly On the second night McIntyre was missing my head. We had no troujoined by some members of the Field ble coaxing young "porky" into a School with one flashlight. After barrel. walking slowly through the garden, With a mother porcupine and her flashing the light up and down young in our possession, we saw each tree, we finally saw movement an excellent opportunity to take among the plants. McIntyre spotted kodachrome and black and white a small porcupine and almost simul- pictures of this family. taneously the group saw a large The next afternoon while the sun porcupine. Possessing only one was at its best we brought the flashlight, it was decided that we mother and her young back into the pursue the mother. We knew if we gardens and proceeded to look for captured her we could catch the a natural location for pictures. After young, as it probably would not inspecting almost every tree in the leave the area. gardens, we decided on a small yel- The mother was eventually cornlow pine tree for the setting. The first ered in the light. It took the aid of subject of the many photographers several students with sticks to per- in the field school was the youngsuade the reluctant porcupine to ster. It was placed with a broom back up into a barrel. near the tip of the eight foot tree. With the mother safely "put The next problem was to encourage away," we set out in pursuit of the it to face the right way. This was remaining porcupine. After an ex- rather difficult because porcupines tended search, I heard a rasping are exceedingly "shy guys." Dropnoise in a pine tree. Soon the young ping from the trees a few times, the porcupine fell into the light of my little fellow finally decided to sit still flashlight about ten feet above the for a brief period. The results of the ground. episode were not too satisfactory

however, as one could not tell the porcupine 's quills from the yellow pine needles. Not to be discouraged by unfavorable surroundings, we sighted another location. A long dead limb of a pine about six feet from the ground was the locale for the second attempt at photographing the porcupines. Due to the shyness of these animals this location also proved unsuitable. Still determined to secure pictures of a mother porcupine and her young in a natural setting, we placed the animals back in the barrels and drove from the museum to Camp 19. A large log in this area was chosen for location No. 3. Both mother and young were placed on the log and then enticed into a nice sunny area. With approximately seven would-be photographers standing four feet from the porcupines aiming their cameras at them, the animals, I believe, must have felt like traitors facing a firing squad. The young one cooperated, but evidently the mother could not face being shot by the cameras without a blindfold over her eyes. She kept turning her quilled end towards the camera. After a two hour attempt and the clicking of many shutters, the group took pity on the porcupines. As a reward for their efforts, the animals were given their freedom on the spot, while the photographers departed, hoping that some of their prints would serve as proof of their photographic abilities.

NATURE — SO WHAT?

An Insight into Interpretation By Robert D. Hakala, Field School, 1949 So what? Because that's what we something else to be aware of— all depend on, friend. Nature is why you're an interpreter also, we all are we do things, how we do things, and interpreters of everything we survey. where and when we do things. We We seek an explanation of that are all a part of nature and every- which is obscure, as life and death, thing, visible or invisible, living or we experiment with natural forces dead is nature. If you are interested to comprehend nature's laws, we in yourself, aware of your friends, give meaning to signs to appease worried about your job or health, our uncomprehending minds, we planning for your family, enjoying a translate into familiar language the vacation—if you've a breath of life natural phenomena about us just as and vestige of consciousness about we convert nature's forces into a you, you're interested in nature, form of power available to us. which is all of these things too. So Through our five senses, the sensaget off that pedestal of indifference tions of nature are transmitted to and gain some nature sense. our minds where the wrinkles of You are interested in nature after memory are formed and the relaall, a naturalist at heart. Here's tions of these phenomena to our own

interests who have derived their If, then, constitutes interpreta- wealth from our natural resources, impressions of nature trans- and many, many John Does whose into ideas which we can under- only apparent dependence on naand associated in our minds ture is for a place to vacation. All with our own welfare. The tools of of these people do not deliberately interpretation are thus our senses ignore the ideals and practices of that transmit impressions and our wise use of our resources. They just minds which translate them. don't know better. The quality or soundness of our And that's where the professional interpretation will depend upon the interpreter comes in, the man or knowledge and intelligence with woman imbued with an intellectual, which we create associations and spiritual, and practical comprehendevelop ideas. The interpretations sion of man's place in nature and which we give natural phenomena equipped with the enthusiasm, enwill determine the intelligence of our ergy and personality necessary to attitudes toward nature. Does it not conveying her lessons. These, it follow then that we, the reasoning seems to me, are the greatest attrimembers of the natural society, we butes of man; the profession they who are able to use nature to our typify is a grassroot calling of huadvantage, should endeavor to manity. equip ourselves with a sound funda- We all will not make a living in mental philosophy concerning our an interpretive profession. But replace in the natural scheme? We are membering that we really are intera part of, not apart from, nature so ested in nature, that we will interpret our interpretations and subsequent her illimitable manifestations and uses of nature must be based on use her to best advantage, let us proper ideals, lots of common sense, also remember that nature is the and a store of nature facts. foundation of our existence. Our at- Unfortunately a great portion of titudes and uses of our natural reour population does not appear to sources will determine our health, be so equipped. Among that inade- wealth, and happiness today and quate lot must be included, regret- that of all generations to follow. ably, many of the policy makers of We cannot deny nature—that's our government, great monied in- what!

NATURE NOTELET

Many flowers rely upon insects ways some that can't get out of for pollination. The milkweeds have these traps. On July 10, 1949 upon traps which are so arranged that the the showy milkweed 1 growing by feet of the visiting bees are caught. M. R. McIntyre's home I found a In freeing themselves they carry pine white butterfly 2 that was the anthers with them from one caught in the pollen trap of this flower to another. The insect has to have a great deal of wing power to pull out of these traps. Many butterflies and moths can get away because of the length of their proboscis and their wing power. There are also ways some that can't get out of these traps. On July 10, 1949 upon the showy milkweed growing by M. R. McIntyre's home I found a pine white butterfly that was caught in the pollen trap of this flower to get some nectar and the milkweed plant. The butterfly had attempted to get some nectar and the milkweed adaptation had held the butterfly that was too weak to get out of the pollen trap. (R.D.V.) 1. Asclepias speciosa 2. Neophasia menapia

EXOTIC GRASSES IN YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

By Robert S. Naramore, Field School, 1949 The invasion of National Park top are most abundant and the other areas by exotic, or non-native, two grasses are present in scattered species of plants is a constant prob- areas only. lem if these areas are to be retained The environment in the meadows in their natural state. is such that these non-native grasses In Yosemite Valley, the invading will continue to spread at the exgrasses have presented a distinct pense of the native grasses. problem for many years; since cer- Probably other non-native grasses tain non-native grasses have be- were introduced by the hauling in come well established in the valley of hay from outside regions to feed meadows and have been replacing domestic stock. Hay is now being native grasses. hauled into Yosemite Valley to feed Enid Michael, in Volume II of "Yo- pack and saddle animals, and hay semite Ranger Naturalist Hand- has, on certain occasions, been book," 1929, states that blue grass 1, transported into the back country. red top 2, velvet grass 3 and rye While avoiding depletion of nagrass 4 are the principle non-native tive meadows by using hay for feed, species found in the Yosemite Val- the seeds of non-native grasses are ley meadows. brought into the park in this manner. In many localized areas of the Thus it seems probable that the meadows certain of those grasses range of non-native grasses will be have completely replaced the native extended rather than diminished by grass species. Blue grass and red present practices.

THE CLOWN OF YOSEMITE

By Duane Corbin, Field School, 1949 Upon approaching the cool spray their common blue jay. of lower Yosemite Falls, I noticed a The flicker landed on the trunk of red-shafted flicker, a mother no this old cedar and with two or three doubt, in a knothole full of hungry scoops of its long pointed bill spilled nestlings. She was busily at work a number of large winged ants onto on an old deformed trunk of an in- a flat-topped granite boulder. Then cense-cedar which was being used she too dropped down on the boulas a highway by endless lines of der and picked up as many of these ants following the ridges of the ants as her bill would hold. I think broken plates of bark. what must have amazed our "clown Another observer of this busy of the woods," the jay was the conmother flicker was the "clown of tinuous dancing movement the Yosemite" watching with great dig- mother flicker found necessary to nity every precise movement. This prevent the ants from crawling up great imitator and entertainer of the her legs while standing on the camp grounds who now was un- boulder. doubtedly learning a new stunt was Soon the flicker made a trip to the a blue-fronted jay—sometimes mis- knothole nest which gave our jay taken by our eastern visitors as a turn to perform. His first attempt 1. Poa pratensis 2. Agrostis palustris 3. Holcus lanatus 4. Elymus sirescens

at the tree was fruitless for these spread like wildfire and soon will crawling insects seemed to choose be seen in all the camp grounds. Dehis legs as a path of retreat. Dur- spite the mimics this fellow boasts, ing the next few attempts he learned he does have a character all his key to obtaining this new kind of own. From now on, when we witthe dance which seemed to be the ness his proud antics and should food. he slip in a fancy step or two, we'll Now, as we all know the jay, his all know the origin of at least one new dance routine will probably of his acts, as a pupil of the flicker.

YOSEMITE FIELDS AFAR

By Charles J. Migliazzo, Field School, 1949 We attribute to a seed the potent- account of the World's National ialities of sprouting, of growing, of Parks and National Reserves which reaching maturity and then climax- so appropriately fit into the Yosemite ing life with death. These are the ideal. steps of all living things. Great His wide scope of discussion ideas, however, differ in that they brings to focus many world national are born in the minds of God-like parks. Among those listed are the creatures and continue to grow like landscape spectacles of the Canadthe redness of a noon sun. They ian Rockies, the sculptured caverns only die when man himself dies. of Czechoslovakia, the grandeur of The birth of the Yosemite ideal of the Javanese crater lake, the magnifpreservation for posterity, of protec- icent arborescent ferns of Argentina, tion for the present, and of enjoy- the expanse of volcanic uplifts in ment for all the people continues in New Zealand and the wide and this respect to reach far and wide varied abundance of life in equatorinto world horizons. This fluores- ial Africa. He indicates by this excence of worldly splendor is panse of natural beauty that ideas worthily presented by Rene Salques do grow and that they do glow in in his "Protection de la Reserves their magnitude when the thought floro-faunistique."1 is great. What greater satisfaction, It is fortunate that M. Salques what greater pleasure, what greater should make us proud by placing thrill could fill the hearts and minds American conservational thinking of the founding fathers of Yosemite at the very top. His interesting ex- than the growth and development pressions are given brilliance by an of an idea?

EDITOR'S NOTE

This number of Yosemite Nature Notes has been prepared and edited by the 1949 class of the Yosemite School of Field Natural History. 1. Revue generale des Sciences pures et appliquees, Vol. XLVII, Nos. 9, 10, 12, 13, Paris. May 15, 31 : June 30 : July 15, 1936.

Shy Guys.

—N.P.S.

Photo—Anderson

Digitized by Yosemite Online Library Dan Anderson