Returning to the trail you descend between the Nevada
Fall and the Liberty Cap with fine side views of both
the fall and the rock, pass on through clouds of spray
and along the rapids to the lead of the Vernal Fall,
about a mile below the Nevada. Linger here if
night is still distant, for views of this favorite
fall and the stupendous rock scenery about it.
Then descend a stairway by its side, follow a dim
trail through its spray, and a plain one along the
border of the boulder-dashed rapids and so back to
the wide, tranquil Valley.
No. 2.
Another grand one-day excursion is to the Upper Yosemite
Fall, the top of the highest of the Three Brothers,
called Eagle Peak on the Geological Survey maps; the
brow of El Capitan; the head of the Ribbon Fall; across
the beautiful Ribbon Creek Basin; and back to the Valley
by the Big Oak Flat wagon-road.
The trail leaves the Valley on the east side of the
largest of the earthquake taluses immediately opposite
the Sentinel Rock and as it passes within a few rods
of the foot of the great fall, magnificent views are
obtained as you approach it and pass through its spray,
though when the snow is melting fast you will be well
drenched. From the foot of the Fall the trail
zigzags up a narrow canyon between the fall and a
plain mural cliff that is burnished here and there
by glacial action.
You should stop a while on a flat iron-fenced rock
a little below the head of the fall beside the enthusiastic
throng of starry comet-like waters to learn something
of their strength, their marvelous variety of forms,
and above all, their glorious music, gathered and composed
from the snow-storms, hail-, rain- and wind-storms
that have fallen on their glacier-sculptured, domey,
ridgy basin. Refreshed and exhilarated, you follow
your trail-way through silver fir and pine woods to
Eagle Peak, where the most comprehensive of all the
views to be had on the north-wall heights are displayed.
After an hour or two of gazing, dreaming, studying
the tremendous topography, etc., trace the rim
of the Valley to the grand El Capitan ridge and go
down to its brow, where you will gain everlasting
impressions of Nature’s steadfastness and power
combined with ineffable fineness of beauty.
Dragging yourself away, go to the head of the Ribbon
Fall, thence across the beautiful Ribbon Creek Basin
to the Big Oak Flat stage-road, and down its fine
grades to the Valley, enjoying glorious Yosemite scenery
all the way to the foot of El Capitan and your camp.
No. 1.
