December 1958

YOSEMITE NATURE NOTES VOL. VOLUME XXXVII - NUMBER 12 DECEMBER 1958

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE IN COOPERATION WITH THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE.

—Anderson

NPS

Organized cross-country skiing is an excellent way to enjoy the winter beauty of Yosemite's high country.

in its 37th year of public service. The monthly publication of Yosemite 's park naturalists and the Yosemite Natural History Association. John C. Preston, Superintendent D. H. Hubbard, Park Naturalist Robert F. Upton, Assoc. Park Naturalist P. F. McCrary, Asst. Park Naturalist S. J. Zachwieja, Junior Park Naturalist Robert A. Groin, Park Naturalist Trainee

VOL. XXXVII DECEMBER

1958

TIOGA PEAK

By William Neely, Ranger-Naturalist P When climbing our Tuolumne Glaciers have never been up here. mountains it is difficult to remember During glacial ages the ice gathered that they have not been pushed up in hollows on slopes and ground their individually, but rather that they way down valleys. The mountain are remnants of flat land that has tops, if high enough, were spared been cut away. Here we hike much and stood above the Tuolumne ice of the time in glacier-scoured, glacierfield as isolated peaks or nunataks, worn, glacier-sculptured topography being gnawed away on all sides. and see the new surfaces, the work Cockscomb and Cathedral peaks are of ice chisels and ice tools, the signs of action and tremendous grinding the spiry fragments of once fatter forces. But there is that region above mountains. The ice, working easily that is untouched by glacier work, a in the vertical joint planes and cracks quiet and ancient region. of that area, cut away and plucked Climbing Tioga Peak this past out slabs and great rocks until just summer we followed the glacier canyon a few thin fins of rock remained yon, up to the glacier-formed lake above the ice, as they remain today. (Gardisky Lake), and up the cliff, Tioga Peak was more spared and slates and quartzites with their rusty the top shows a little of what once red colors, and on to the top. Here I began to prowl around while the rest was before the great Sierran uplift of the party was busy with lunch, reached its present elevation. For instead of being a mountain top Tioga quity of the old mountain spoke Peak is the bottom of an ancient valley. ley, 60,000,000 years old.

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—Neely In a museum we can look at charts sliced vertically by Warren Creel. and plaster relief models of the Valley and its once-river of ice. M. ".Broad Valley Stage" of Sierran little Tioga Peak Valley has been "landscapes", but standing on one or captured by all these canyons, leaving in one the geologic history is restricting only a vestige 300 feet long and truly first hand or, better, first foot. perhaps 700 feet wide. As the illustration shows, three or If I could but hide the new canyon four acres of the old valley remain and arrange a picture of the ancient on the top, running roughly north system! I lay down on the sharp and south. This rises gently on either quartzite ground and sighted across side a few feet. Then the valley is to Mt. Dana. The Lee Vining Canyon suddenly left hanging above the present now was out of view, and then I saw: precipitous Lee Vining Canyon on one side, how my valley stretched itself and side where the steep Sierra escarpment could be traced across the Glacial ment allowed rapid gulching of Canyon of Dana to the slopes of the streams and erosion by the Lee Vining glacier peak, and yet beyond on the slopes ing glacier. On the west is Slate of Gibbs and across Spillway Creek Creek valley, another glacial pathway to Kuna Crest! No longer did I see way; to the north is Gardisky Lake; Dana as a peak but rather as the ancient and to the east the mountain was ancient slope of a valley, the remaining

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l Ei'l. Mt. Dana, Canyon, and Glacier. —McCrary NPS Cathedral Range.

—NPS

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half of a gently rolling ridge, and the level and gravelly was a perceptible same with Mt. Gibbs. The mountains reticulation — a network of bits of became no longer mountains but rock and sharp gravel and slatesparts of a harmonious system. Not a network of polygons. In the arctic, a confusion of peaks or a "tossing in Siberia, Alaska, Lapland, these sea" of peaks as mountain books like polygons are of huge size, several to say about the view, but rather a feet high and often yards across, but pattern of gentle hills and plains, there they were small five to eight with the imagination filling in the inches across and the edges raised glacial gaps and hollows. With a about half inch, but revealing through new eye we see our mountains not same work of frost, the sorting out of as chaos but of order. By lying on small from large stones into little the ground we get a beetle's-eye ridges of ground as though a stork view of giant concepts. fishing net had been laid down by, Muir saw glaciers. He traced the giant. This delicate tracery, seldom work of vast ice waves and ice rivers, seen in our climates except on the ers, but his vision was so impressed on very highest summits which have by their magnitude that he failed to been exposed for thousands of years see entirely, or at least didn't discover freezing and thawing, is another scribe the older, gentler beauty of sign of our arctic climate on Tuolumne the ancient uncut stone before the one mountain tops, and I thank Carl jewellers cut the facets. Sharsmith, the good naturalist who At my feet was another wonder once showed it to me, for here is the value of a naturalist and guide! The working called polygonboden. By this show what is apparently ordinary time the party, finished with eating ground and to make poetry and and ready to look at scenery, had meaning of it and of the earth and come down to my valley to see what its forces — to show valleys that remain I was doing, lying on the ground longer exist, to fill in by imagination and sighting this way and that and and to turn into meaningful harmony writing notes They saw the grand what may be just "rock piles" and scale and pattern of valleys but their crags. To turn chaos into order, thus feet nearly trampled out a thousand turning fear of strange places into years of frost artistry, for at the bottom delight and familiarity and understanding tom of the "valley" where it was standing. Kuna Crest. —Anderson NPS

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A THUMBNAIL SKETCH OF YOSEMITE'S HISTORY

By Dwight Cushman, Ranger-Naturalist V The development of the Wawona James M. Hutchings led the first Pioneer Village, now underway, will party of sightseers into Yosemite provide an interesting center for inValley in 1855. He made the Valley terpreting the human history of the his home until he was killed on the Yosemite area. In addition to beautiful scenery, Yosemite has produred Big Oak Flat Road in 1902. a varied and interesting group of huGalen Clark established "Clark 's man beings. Let' s take a quick look Station" at Wawona in 1857 and beat a few of them. came the first guardian of the YoCaptain Joseph Walker led an exsemite Grant after its establishment pedition across the High Sierra in by Congress and President Lincoln 1833, perhaps looking down into Yoin 1864. Many visitors came over semite Valley, and observing the the Chowchilla Mountain road from giant sequoias. His route was probMariposa to Clark 's Station by stageably close to the present Tioga Road. coach and then went on horseback Major James D. Savage was the to the Mariposa Grove or Yosemite legendary "White Chief of the MariValley. poser Hills ", with wide influence The Washburn Brothers — Julius, among the Indians. He led the faHenry, John and Ed — did much to rnous Mariposa Battalion during the make the Mariposa Grove accessiIndian War of 1851 which made the ble by building roads, operating first descent to the floor of Yosemite stage lines and providing hotel acValley. commodations at Wawona from 1866 Chief Tenaya was the leader of to 1903. The important part they the Sierra Miwok Indians who made played in Yosemite 's history will be Yosemite Valley their home. Tenaya told at the Wawona Pioneer Village, Lake commemorates his love for his which is located near the Wawona mountain homeland. Hotel buildings which they built. —Yosemite Museum

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—raps Director Mather and Superintendent Lewis talking over an early Yosemite problem.

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—Anderson NPS John Muir made his first trip to Sequoia probably never had the Yosemite in 1868, the beginning of pleasure of seeing the giant trees a lifelong interest in the Sierra. His which were named after him. He powerful pen did much to awaken was a Cherokee Indian who taught the public to the need for protecting our heritage. his people to read and write—one i Captain Abram E. Wood, the first of the twelve men in human history acting Superintendent of Yosemite who have invented a complete alNational Park, arrived with federal phabet. troops to administer the park in 1891. The history of Yosemite is the story Cavalry patrolled the park from their headquarters at Wawona, later movof America during the gold rush ing to Yosemite Valley (in 1906) and years. The Indians enjoying the freecontinuing the effective army addom of their mountain homes found ministration until 1914. themselves overrun by gold-seekers Stephen T. Mather, a self-made with inevitable conflicts developing. businessman, became the first director Explorers, soldiers, inn-keepers, naturalists of the National Park Service in -- were all captured by the 1916. He did much to aid the develscenic beauties of Yosemite and opment of our present system of Nahelped to develop the National Park tional Parks. as we know it. Historical values and Washington B. Lewis was the first traditions must be preserved for the of a series of civilian superintendents future as well as our scenic assets. of Yosemite National Park after the The Wawona Pioneer Village will formation of the National Park Servbecome one of the major attractions ice in 1916. for visitors during the years ahead.

YOSEMITE A NEW TYPE OF CAMPFIRE PROGRAM IN YOSEMITE

By Jack F. Fry, Ranger-Naturalist This past summer at Bridalveil stated equipment with which the Creek Campground, campers at work, using effectively the technique tended a campfire talk entitled "U.S. of audience participation. Park Ranger — Tools of his Trade". Among the winter gear shown The purpose of the program was to were cross country skis, equipment acquaint the park visitor with the for measuring the snow pack, and a duties performed by the Park Ranger, toboggan for the rescue of injured er and the "tools of his trade". skiers. A demonstration of the two-way Park Rangers Frank Betts (who radio was given, using a portableproposed and coordinated the programs), able set and a receiver-transmitter in grams), John Townsley, and Richard one of the park pickup trucks. Stenmark described and demonstrated Fire fighting equipment was displayed. —Audrey STS —Click to enlarge, Parks equipment.

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—Ranger played and demonstrated. A bear trap was hauled in and was described in detail. The younger generation was fascinated and delighted when the trigger was sprung and the door dropped into place with a resounding crash. The trap provided an excellent opportunity for explaining National Park Service policies regarding bears and other wild animals. Most of the campers attending the program were impressed by the thorough way in which a ranger's truck is equipped. In addition to visible equipment such as a radio, red light, etc., the ranger carries a collapsible stretcher, first aid equipment such as splints, bandages, etc., blankets for injured persons, an accident investigation kit containing a camera, flares, tape measure, and other essential items. Also to be found is equipment for use in law enforcement such as citation and warning books, a hard hat for fire fighting or other dangerous work and a pack containing food rations (similar to, but more tasty than "K" rations), a change of socks, a sleeping bag, and a first aid kit. Thus if the ranger sees a fire off of the road he can park his truck, shoulder his pack, pick up an axe, shovel and other fire fighting equipment (also carried in the truck) and be gone for several days if necessary. —McIntyre. NPS Stokes litter in use on rescue of seriously injured climber. Rescue techniques were described, a few rescue and search experiences were related, and much of the equipment used in such work was shown.

On August 19 and 20, 1958, (I mountain rescue team of nine park rangers effected the rescue of WiI Liam Beeghley, age 17, from a mo;1 hazardous position on a narrow ledge high on the rock cliffs in Yu semite National Park. The site ()I the rescue was 1500 feet above tho Yosemite Valley floor and at a poitt 1700 feet directly below the rim < Glacier Point overlook. The rescue and evacuation was accomplishes 1 only through the calculated expc sure of the lives and safety of mem bers of the rescue team and it required a superb demonstration of thP

most skilled techniques of rock climbing and mountain rescue practices. —Betts, NPS

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This included nylon climbing ropes placed on this cart so that an injured and other climbing gear, a "bull person may be wheeled, rather than horn" (an electronic megaphone for carried, down a trail. communicating with persons maAlthough programs such as this rooned on cliffs), a resuscitator for re are regular features in some other viving drowning and heart attack victims, a Stokes litter (a basket like National Parks, most campers in Yostretcher for transporting injured persamitet have not witnessed them besons from cliffs), and a cart equipped fora. visitor response leads us to bewith hand brakes and bicycle lieve that they will be a popular part wheels. The Stokes litter can be of campfire programs in the future. —Bullard NPS Lost for 3½ days, little Shirley Ann Miller was returned safely to her parents after a search which involved over 100 men.

YOSEMITE OUT OF YOSEMITE 'S PAST

A One Picture Story —Yosemite Museum Opening of the Mariposa - Yosemite Valley - Wawona Road in 1875.

PUBLICATIONS FOR SALE AT THE YOSEMITE MUSEUM

All mail orders should be addressed to, and remittances made payable to, Yosemite NATURAL HISTORY ASSOCIATION, Yosemite NATIONAL PARK, CALIFORNIA. Prices include postage, insurance, and on proper items, California State Sales Tax 3%, plus 1% County Tax.

GENERAL

Adams ' Guide to Yosemite Valley, Illustrated $1 65 Auto Tour of Yosemite Valley, Self-Guiding - Beatty and Harwell

Auto Tour of Yosemite National Park - Ditton and McHenry

Campsite Finder (Western) - Hartesveldt 1 65 Climbers Guide to High Sierra - Sierra Club ___ - 3 25 Devils Postpile National Monument - Hartesveldt

Exploring Our National Parks and Monuments - Butcher (paper) 3 75 Exploring Our National Parks and Monuments - Butcher (cloth) 5 40 Going Light - With Backpack or Burro - Sierra Club 2 25 Happy Isles Nature Center, Your Guide to - Hubbard

National Park Story in Pictures - Story

National Parks, The - What They Mean to You and Me - Tilden (cloth) 6 20 National Parks, The - What They Mean to You and Me - Tilden (paper) 1 15 6, Nature Trail - Inspiration Point Self-Guiding - Carpenter

Nature Trail - Mariposa Grove Self Guiding - Wason

Outdoor Hazards - Real and Fancied - Hood.___ __._... 4 25 Place Names of Yosemite Valley - Hartesveldt _

Rocks & Minerals, How to Know Them - Pearl -_.65 Starr 's Guide to John Muir Trail and High Sierra Region 2 25 This is California - Obert --°°.._-'--- ---"-°--"-- 8 00 Waterfalls, Famous, of the World - Brockman - __...__

Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada - Ansel Adams & John Muir 12 70 Yosemite Story, The - Scott... 1 20 Yosemite Trails & Tales - Taylor --_'--..--"---- -'

ANIMAL LIFE

Animal Tracks, Field Guide to - Murie __ 4 30 Birds of Pacific States - Hoffman 6 20 Birds, Western, Field Guide to - Peterson 4 3.0 Birds of Yosemite - Stebbins -- °-_.._-'--"-- ---°'--°-'

Fishes of Yosemite National Park - Evans-Wallis

Mammals, Field Guide to - Burt and Grossenheider 4 30 Mammals of Yosemite National Park - Parker

Reptiles and Amphibians of Yosemite National Park - Walker

Survey of Sierra Nevada Bighorn - Jones _ °°°

TREES AND FLOWERS

Broadleaved Trees of Yosemite National Park - Brockman

Cone-bearing Trees of Yosemite National Park - Cole

Ferns, Field Guide to - Cobb -'--"'-' 4 30 Sequoias, Yosemite, Guide to the - McFarland __

Wildflowers, Common, of Yosemite - Beatty, Harwell and Cole

Wildflowers of the Sierra (80 color photos) - Hubbard -.55 Wildflowers, Western, Field Book of - Armstrong 5 40

HISTORY AND INDIANS

Ghost Mines of Yosemite - Hubbard (paper) _ -° 1.20 ---------Ghost Mines of Yosemite - Hubbard (cloth) _

3.00 Gold, Guns and Ghost Towns - Chalfant __-° 3.80 Indians, Yosemite, Yesterday and Today - Godfrey

John Muir, Protector of the Wilds - Haines-Morrill _ 2 00 Miwok Material Culture - Barrett and Gifford (paper) _ 2 20 Miwok Material Culture - Barrett and Gifford (cloth) __ 3 25 Mother Lode Country, Guide to the - Brockman

100 Years in Yosemite - Russell (paper) °--'-° °'- 2 20 100 Years in Yosemite Russell (cloth) 3 25 One Thousand California Place Names - Gudde 1 15 Steve Mather of the National Parks - Shankland._..___..._.__.__..__.___.._._ __-_._.__-_.___.__ 6 20 Wilderness World of John Muir, The - Teale 4 85 Yosemite : The Story of An Idea - Huth

GEOLOGY AND MAPS

Geologic History of Yosemite Valley (Prof. Paper 160) - Matthes 5 75 Geology of Yosemite Valley, Brief Story of - Beatty -_

High Sierra Camp Areas, Pocket Guide to - Cork :__

High Sierra Camp Areas. Trail Guide to - Clark _ 1 15 Incomparable Valley, The - Matthes (paper) _ -. °-- 2.15 Map of Sequoia-Kings Canyon NP. Topographic - USGS 1.15 Map of Yosemite National Park, Topographic - USGS

Map of Yosemite Valley. Topographic, shaded geology story printed on back)

North Country of Yosemite, Pocket Guide to - Clark -.60 North Country of Yosemite, Trail Guide to - Clark 1.15 South Boundary Country, Pocket Guide to - Clark

South Boundary Country, Trail Guide to - Clark __ __ 1.15

FOR CHILDREN

A Day with Tupi, An Indian Boy of the Sierra - Hubbard ( paper) 1.20 A Day with Tupi, An Indian Boy of the Sierra - Hubbard (cloth) 3.00 Animal Friends of the Sierra - Hubbard (paper) 1.20 Animal Friends of the Sierra - Hubbard (cloth) 3.00