THE SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK 



15 



can mysteries, the disagreeable elements which he may 

 encounter in the automobile trip from Visalia to the Gianr 

 Forest in Sequoia National Park will be ameliorated by 

 the pleasant recollection of his repast. 



The road to the Giant Forest, after crossing the plain, 

 strikes the Kaweah River and follows up the Little Val- 

 ley and Canyon to the junction of the Middle and North 

 Forks. There it crosses the River and follows the North 

 Fork of the Kaweah, climbing gradually above it to the 



Divide. There are few roads in the world which possess 

 such an inspiring view as may be seen from Administra- 

 tion Point on the Park road. 



From Administration Point on to the Giant Forest the 

 view of the Middle Fork Canyon is secured only now 

 and then. Most of the road passes through the Forest. 

 The giant trees which are in the vicinity of the camp so 

 far eclipse all conceptions of the marvelous that thoughts 

 of the canyon view are banished. 



A LIGHTNING ROD OF THE HIGH SIERRA 



This is University Peak as seen from Kearsage Pass, near the Kings River Canyon, California. It lies to the noith of Mt. Whitney and is called 

 one of the lightning reds of the mountains. Its rock-ribbed summit and sides have been struck by lightning countless times without much ap- 

 parent damage. 



Park entrance. From the Park entrance the road is on 

 a steady upward grade and swings around points of the 

 south shoulder of the Ash Peaks to the Old Colony Mill 

 where the first view of Moro Rock and the valley of the 

 Middle Fork of the Kaweah bursts through the screen 

 of trees in a breath-taking way that shocks their obser- 

 vation into alert attention. At this point the road is on 

 the north rim of the Middle Fork Canyon and just beyond 

 Old Colony Mill, at Administration Point, rises to about 

 3,500 feet above the stream which may be seen threading 

 its way like quicksilver down the canyon. Straight ahead 

 is Moro Rock with its domelike summit rising over 4,000 

 feet above the river below. In the background some 

 twelve miles away is the crest of the Great Western 



The Giant Forest, which constitutes the terminus of the 

 wagon road, surrounds a camp, some studios, the post- 

 office and the Park Ranger station. The peace and rest- 

 fulness of this group of monarchs pervades the camp 

 and constrains the small group of tourists to speak in 

 humble and softer tones. I have never known anyone 

 to enter this wonderful group en route to the back 

 country who did not abandon thoughts of speedy pas- 

 sage to linger beneath the branches and amongst the 

 towering shafts of these trees which were 3,000 years 

 old when Christ was born. As a matter of fact there is 

 sufficient beauty and glory within a radius of five miles 

 from this camp to justify the stay of the most bored 

 of tourists for several weeks. 



