370 PROCEEDINGS OP THE CALIFORNIA 



At the upper end of the valley the river forks, one branch, nearly as large as 

 the main river, coming from near Castle Peak, the main river itself from Soda 

 Springs. About half a mile up the main canon, the river forms some cascadqs, 

 the highest being about thirty feet. 



The valley was first visited, in 1850, by Mr. Joseph Screech, a mountaineer 

 of this region, who found it occupied by Indians. This gentleman informed me 

 that, up to a very recent date, this valley was disputed ground between the Pah 

 Utah Indians from the eastern slope and the Big Creek Indians from the western 

 slope of the Sierras; they had several fights, in which the Pah Utahs proved 

 victorious. The latter still visit the valley every fall to gather acorns, which 

 abound in this locality. Here I may also mention that the Indians speak of a 

 lake of very salt water on their trail from here to Castle Peak. Mr. Screech 

 also informed me of the existence of a fall, about a hundred feet high, on the 

 Tuolumne River, about four miles below this valley, and which prevents fish 

 from coming up any higher. The climate is said to be milder in winter than 

 that of the Yosemite Valley, as is also indicated by a larger number of oaks 

 and a great number of Pinus Sabiniana. The principal tree of the valley is 

 Pinus ponderosa ; besides this we have P. Sabiniana, Cedar, Q. Sonomensis, Q. 

 crassipocula ; also poplar and cottonwood. 



The valley can be reached easily from Big Oak Flat by taking the regular 

 Yosemite trail, by Sprague's Ranch and Big Flume, as far as Mr. Hardin's 

 fence, between south and middle fork of Tuolumne River, about eighteen miles 

 from Big Oak Flat. Here the trail turns off to the left, going to Wade's 

 Meadows or Big Meadows, sometimes called Reservoir Meadows, the distance 

 being- about seven miles. From Wade's Ranch the trail crosses the middle 

 fork of Tuolumne and goes to the Hog Ranch, five miles ; thence up divide 

 between the middle fork aud main river, about two miles, to another little ranch 

 called " The Canon." From here the trail winds down through rocks for six miles 

 to Tuolumne Canon. This trail is well blazed, and was made by Mr. Screech 

 and others, for the purpose of driving sheep and cattle to the valley. The whole 

 distance from Big Oak Flat is thirty-eight miles. 



Another trail equally good, but a little longer, leaves the Yosemite trail about 

 half a mile beyond the crossing of the south fork, thence crosses the middle fork 

 within about one and a half miles of the south fork crossing, and follows up the 

 divide between the middle fork and the main river, joining the first-named trail 



at the Hog Ranch. 



Regular Meeting, November 4th, 1867 

 President in the Chair. 



Thirty members present. 



George C. Johnson was elected a Resident Member. 



