August 1958

YOSEMITE NATURE NOTES VOLUME XXXVII - NUMBER 8 AUGUST 1958

—Josef Muench Sunset over Sentinel Dome.

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE IN COOPERATION WITH THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE.

—Rowe, NPS Arthur E. Demaray

YOSEMITE

Nature Notes John C. Preston, Superintendent Robert F. Upton, Assoc. Park Naturalist S. J. Zachwieja, Junior Park Naturalist in its 37th year of Public service. The monthly publication of Yosemite 's park naturalists and the Yosemite Natural History Association. D. H. Hubbard, Park Naturalist R. F. Sharp, Asst. Park Naturalist W. W. Dunmire, Park Naturalist Trainee

VOL. XXXVII AUGUST 1958 NO.

ARTHUR E. DEMARAY

1887 - 1958 The death of Arthur Demaray on recollections of the discerning interAugust 19 took from the National est shown by him in the very young Park Family another of the stalwarts park naturalist program and the alwho fathered the Service. To me, he ways-constructive supervision which has always been a principal guide he exercised. Perhaps the insight and mentor for Interpretation. Esinto the public response which he pecially, is he credited with leading gained during those months in Yosethe park museum program out of the mite enlivened his concern with the jungle of administrative entanglepotentials of Service-wide interprements which for a good many years tive work. At any rate, through all obscured its identity and delayed the years the interpreters and reits development. Probably those searchers in the Director 's Office and workers who in an earlier day were in the field found in him a neverconcerned with general park adminfailing source of encouragement and istration, finance, planning, developguidance. ment, protection, information, recreational resources and concessions In the 1930s and early 1940s it was my good fortune to be rather closely are equally convinced that he led the associated with Mr. Demaray in way for them, also. That type of man Washington and to enjoy his generwas Arthur Demaray. ous personal friendship. He took me My earliest association with him and my work " under his wing " in a was in Yosemite in 1926. In the temvery real sense, and I became well porary absence of Superintendent acquainted with his ability to carry Washington B. Lewis, Mr. Demaray, problems of organization and staffing then Administrative Officer in the through the labyrinthine course set Director 's Office, served for a time as up by Budget, Civil Service, and Ini park superintendent. I have pleasant terior. The Museum division came

into existence under his aegis, and Chapman stated: he brought about administrative re- "Arthur E. Demaray... has finements in the broader set-up for had an outstanding part in develInterpretation refinements which faoping the policies of the National cilitated the advance of all interprePark Service. During many years tive work and which today constitute he represented the Service effeca part of the foundations of the Natively before the Bureau of the Budturalist-Historian unit of the service, get and the Appropriations CornArthur Demaray was a native mittees of Congress.... He is Washingtonian. He was born there praised for his effective encourwhile his father, Edward A. Demaagement of the program of hisray, was secretary to a Minnesota toric sites which sites now cornsenator. In 1903 when Arthur was 16 prise a major part of the heritage years old he took a job as messenof the Nation preserved in the Nager in the Geological Survey. Durtional Park System. Mr. Demaray 's ing fourteen years of hard work, keen judgment, fairmindedness, night school and individual study vision and unselfish devotion to he made up for some of the formal his many tasks influenced countschooling he had missed. He was still less actions taken by the National with the Geological Survey when he Park Service. He contributed helpfound a very charming helpmate, ful guidance to each new phase of Alfrida Briggs, whom he married in its work.... Scores of employees 1913. In 1917 he transferred to the have benefited from his counsel. new-born bureau, the National Park He has displayed leadership, wisService, as a topographic draftsman. dam, and devotion to the public Successively he became editor, adinterest so distinguished as to earn ministrative assistant, executive ofthe gratitude of the Nation and ficer, assistant director, associate official recognition of the extraordirector (for eighteen years), and didinary quality of his service.... rector. He served on the National His is indeed a major contribution Capital Park and Planning Commisto the preserving of the National sion, the Zoning Commission of the Park System and to the enlarging District of Columbia, the Board of of its usefulness to the American Trustees of the Welfare and Recreapeople." tional Association, the National ArIn the fall of 1951 Mr. Demaray boretum Advisory Commission, the retired after 48½ years of governcommittee of officers of the Washment service. He and Mrs. Demaray ington Monument Society and was left their lovely Washington home in the director of National Park ConcesRollingwood for a beautiful "Spanish sions, Inc. His numerous commendaestate" which they developed just tions and awards include the Coroutside of Tucson, Arizona. Their nelius Amory Pugsley Silver Medal, daughter, Elise Anderson, had prethe decoration, Knight of Vasa, conceded them in taking up residence ferred by the King of Sweden, and in Tucson. For seven years Arthur the Distinguished Service Award of enjoyed the stimulating life in the the Department of the Interior. In henhistoric Spanish - American center oring him with the last-mentioned, on and continued his work with National Nov. 8, 1951, Secretary Oscar L. Parks Concessions, Inc. He took up

YOSEMITE

art work and produced a fine series upon the consciousness of each of oil paintings, some of them feaArthur's numerous friends a glowing turing the local historic scene. record of his kindnesses and underDuring 1957 and 1958 he suffered standing. May there be a further a great sickness. Death occurred on lasting monument to him and his August 19 at the Tucson Medical work! Reports from Washington inCenter Hospital. Mr. Demaray's dicate that study is being given to ashes were buried in Grand Canyon ways and means of commemorating National Park on August 23. Mrs. the highly significant accomplishments attained by Arthur Demaray Demaray and daughter, Elise, surduring his lifetime of service to Navive him. tional Parks. I am sure that there is inscribed —Carl Russell —Anderson, NPS I Mr. Demaray and friends in the Mariposa Grove in 1950. From the left, Lawrence C. Merriam, Yosemite's Superintendent at that time; Mr. Demaray; the late Major O. A. Tomlinson, at that lime Regional Director, Region 4; and Hillory A. Tolson, Assistant Director.

YOSEMITE LITTLE NELLIE FALLS

By Shirley Sargent Little Nellie Falls is one of the rival, the Big Oak Flat Road. Dr. John prettiest, least-publicized and most T. McLean, who built the winning picturesque waterfalls in the Yosemroad, had a high-spirited, popular ite region. Its very lack of promindaughter named Mary Ellen, who ence and out-of-the-way location, on was known as "Nellie." Spying the the old Coulterville Road, endears joyous, wilderness fall on a survey it to those purposeful enough to trip in the early 1870 's, McLean know it. (The word "purposeful," to promptly called it after her. Later characterize admirers of the thirtythe site was used for a construction foot-drop falls, is correct. Very few camp by McLean and his men. travelers risk tires twice on the first Nellie camped there often, both durnine miles of this dirt road. At many ing and after the building of the times of the year, "purposeful" may road. be considered synonymous with Now that Yosemite is reached by "foolhardy! ") modern mountain highways — sans Fed by Little Crane Creek, Little dust, rocks and ruts the first part Nellie Falls splashes gracefully over of the Coulterville Road is seldom granite in a shadowy canyon apseen by the casual tourist or known proximately midway between Big even to eager fishermen. A visit to Meadow (Meyer 's Ranch) and the this enchanting, peaceful place is Merced Grove of Big Trees. A jumble well-worth the twelve mile round of fallen pines, alum root, azaleas, trip from the junction of the road scarlet mimulus and shallow water with the All-Year Highway, just becutting across the unbridged road low Cascade Falls. add charm to the natural, unspoiled However, the Coulterville Road is setting. The falls are situated just not "another new freeway for your outside the western boundary of safety. " Best — dustiest too — Yosemite National Park. There is a months to travel it are July and Augsmall, rude campsite just below the ust. Inquiries should ALWAYS be cascade in a fairly level area overmade at Park Headquarters in Yo looking deep granite pools. Cold semite as to the condition of the road water only! between Big Meadow and the fall The famous and redoubtable Coulitself. Many unwary souls have been terville Road won the dramatic race stuck on this often-rutty stretch. to be the first stagecoach route into As Chief Itchyfoot, sage of the Yosemite Valley on June 17th, 1874, Sierras, says, " The road to Little a dusty month ahead of its hated Nellie is paved with good shovels!

YOSEMITE

—Shirley Sargent Little Nellie Falls.

YOSEMITE WEATHER PICTURE FOR 1957-1958

By Jack Fry, Ranger-Naturalist In 1957, well over one half of the cal thermometer will record increasvisitors to Yosemite National Park ingly higher temperatures until it is came in June, July and August. Al- reset) recorded 22° below zero at though many of these travelers re- Tioga Pass Entrance Station last turn to the park during the winter winter. However, no one is stationed months, many of them see the park at Tioga Pass during the winter so only during the summer time. In the thermometer was set by the last order to answer some of the ques- man to leave in the fall and read tions asked by the latter group of when the station was opened in the visitors regarding what Yosemite spring, thus, the date of this low National Park is like during the reading is not known and it is, therewinter months, the following infor- fore, not official. mation has been abstracted from the The first rain of the year (July 1957- monthly reports of the Chief Park June 1958) was on September 17 Ranger. when .09 inches were recorded. The The data on temperatures are for wettest month was March during Yosemite Valley only. The highest which 10.21 inches of rain were retemperature recorded in the Valley corded. February was next with 9.75 was 97° in September, although the inches. During the entire year a total highest maximum average was of 45.14 inches of precipitation was 88.4°, recorded in July. The lowest recorded, 10.14 inches greater than temperature was 20°, recorded in the normal rainfall (35 inches). January, and the lowest minimum During the past year the snowaverage, 28°, was also recorded pack was one of the heaviest during during the month of January. the time records have been kept Official winter temperatures are since 1930. The first snows of the

recorded at South Entrance, Yosemite Valley, and Badger Pass. The year were recorded on the Tioga, lowest temperature officially recorded in the park last year was at roads on the 20th and 21st of Octo- Badger Pass - - 1° on March 9, and ber. During November, 14 inches the highest was 97°, recorded in were recorded at Badger Pass, Yosemite ' s ski center. This had melted Yosemite Valley during September. to 4 inches by the end of the month. A minimum temperature thermometer, i.e., one which records in- On the 14th of November, the Tioga creasingly lower temperatures until and Big Oak Flat roads were officialit is reset (much the same as a clinical ly closed for the season. The first snow in Yosemite Valley was on

—McIntyre, NPS Although the Snow-Cal has made traveling easier, skis are carried, just in case! —Anderson, NPS

—McIntyre, NPS A hollow aluminum rod, pushed through the snow to the earth below, is weighed to determine water content of the snow brought up in it. Park Rangers Ken Ashley and Fred Martishaw at work. November 5th when "traces" of snow Snow Course Elev. Depth Normal ('57-'58) were recorded. Traces were also recorded on the 16th of that month. Ostrander Lake 8,600 127.7 871 On December 18, 4 inches of snow Gin Flat 7,150 166.3 80.7 fell in Yosemite Valley, thus insuring Snow Flat 8,700 146.9 100.7 residents and visitors of a white Tuolumne Meadows 8,555 83.0 57.9 Christmas. Snow records for Badger On April 6 the snowpack at Badger Pass show 3 inches on December 1, Pass increased in depth from 140 23 inches on the 22nd, and 18 inches inches to 172 inches, but it had lowon the 31st. ered to 102 inches by the end of April. During the month of May snow In January there were 4 inches of conditions were such that three park snow in Yosemite Valley, and by roads were officially opened. The the 26th the depth of the snowpack Big Oak Flat road was opened on at Badger Pass had increased to 51 the 17th, the entire Mariposa Grove road on the 19th, and the entire Glacier Point road on the 30th. It was in the Valley and an increase to not until the 22nd of June that the 81.5 inches at Badger Pass. Tioga Road could be officially In March the results of the annual opened. At that time most of the high I country above Merced Lake and snow survey gave the following picTuolumne Meadows was still under ture : from 3 to 4 feet of snow.

YOSEMITE

A RARE FERN IN YOSEMITE

By Robert J. Rodin Recently on a field trip in the has been given no common name vicinity of Arch Rock the author in the literature this author will refer came upon a fern not previously reported to it as the White Fern. from Yosemite, and usually found at lower foothill elevations. In shape and size it appears nearly identical to the gold fern, as can sometimes placed in the genus be noted in the accompanying illus- Pityrogramma triangularis) is a rare fern. It is a tration, but this variety is noticeably variety of the common gold fern, lighter green and a more delicate Pityrogramma triangularis, so named fern. It grows only in very protected because of an exudation of golden places, and the new location is in waxy material on the under side of cave-like shade beneath great grafronds before the black spores nite boulders where it remains cool form. The rare variety pallida gets its even on a very hot day. When sumvariety name because of its color mer dryness finally cause the ferns also; a pallid or white wax covers to die back, the whitish powder still the upper and lower surfaces of the remains on the dry stems and curled frond and also the stalk. Since it leaves. The White Fern, Pityrogramma triangularis variety pallida, found growing near Arch Rock Ranger Station in protected shady places. Lower photograph shows lower sides of two varieties, left the White Fern, variety pallida, and right the Gold Fern, Pityrogramma triangularis. —Rodin

—Anderson, NPS The Grizzly Giant in the Mariposa Grove has a dead top.

SEQUOIA TOPS

By Glenn B. Coy, Ranger-Naturalist One of the questions frequently asked ranger-naturalists in the sequoia groves is, "Ranger, if the top of the tree had not been knocked out by lightning, how tall would it be?" The fact is that with but a few exceptions the sequoias would not be very much taller than they are at present. There are many limiting factors to the height of any forest tree. A tree of the size of the sequoia presents special difficulties. One of the mysteries of plant physiology is the manner in which the uplift of water and minerals to such an altitude can be accomplished. Suggestions such as osmosis and capillarity leave many important questions unanswered. Most of our western conifers tend to form a pointed top when young. If this top is destroyed, a branch in the topmost whorl usually bends upward to take its place. This pointed top will persist as long as the tree has youthful vigor and is growing rapidly. As maturity approaches, the top loses its point and a rounded dome shape begins to appear. This is the time when the tree is prized by lumbermen for cutting. Following this period they become more and more subject to plant disease and insect attack. Old age is characterized by the barren, or ragged, tops and many dead and dying branches. The ages for each stage depend upon the species of tree and environmental factors. The giant sequoias are not bothered by many of the old age problems which beset other trees. They do, however, go through the —Anderson, NPS Closeup of top of Grizzly Giant. same growth stages. There are few trees which have the same sharp pointed, feathery symmetry of the young trees. As they reach advanced years, they have little that distinguishes them from other forest trees. It is only in maturity that they take on those characteristics of exceptional diameter and height which make them wonders of the world. Although we know of no natural reason, with the exception of fire, for the death of the standing sequoias, there are several reasons for dead tops. The one most frequently

mentioned is lightning. This might be given more credence if some of the affected trees were not in protected locations. A more credible cause is the gradual dying away of the top due to root damage or lack of water. One cause of this condition could be the gradual drying of the whole southern Sierra which makes the supplying of water to such a great height very difficult. Trees have been observed to die back progressively from the tops after suffering continued fire damage to their trunks. Factors such as road building, with the cutting of roots, and human erosion undoubtedly play an important role with some trees, also. The sequoias, in all probability, reach their maximum height at between 1500 and 2000 years. After this age they might be said to be mature trees. Those which are 3000 to 3800 years may be in late maturity or old age. Of this last we cannot speak definitely, though, since with their relative security from insect attack and plant disease there seems to be no reason except fire for their death. Any tree will increase in girth as long as it lives so our big trees cannot be said to continue the taper of a thirty foot tree on up to a point. Rather they have long ago reached a maximum height and like many a mature human have been increasing in girth ever since. —Anderson, NPS The top of the American Legion tree is always dead.

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 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

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 5.40 Birds, Western, Field Guide to - Peterson 4.30 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 - Toole 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 - Clark.........

High Sierra Camp Areas, Trail Guide to - Clark 1.15 Incomparable Valley, The - Matthes (paper) 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

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