WELCOME 



John C. Preston 



On behalf of the National Park Ser- 

 vice I take pleasure in welcoming you 

 as a visitor to Yosemite National Park. 

 I know that your visit was planned to 

 afford you and your party a unique 

 and happy experience in this, one of 

 the world's outstanding scenic areas. 

 It is the purpose of this booklet to help 

 you realize to the utmost the pleasures 

 of this trip. Many will find time or in- 

 clination for seeing the park from auto 

 roads only. Under these circumstances 

 the use of this guide will bring a fuller 

 understanding and appreciation of the 

 essentials of the magnificent scenery 

 which can be seen from the highway. 

 For those who are disposed to explore the wonders of Yosemite further, 

 you are invited to travel along the high country trails and spend your 

 nights camping out under the stars. In this manner will you be able to 

 gain a more intimate knowledge of the park and its many superlative 

 features. By this experience one will more fully understand and ap- 

 preciate the fragile nature of a wilderness area. Detailed trail guides 

 and maps to help you are available in the park. 



This booklet is intended to help you learn more about Yosemite. 

 It is based on the combined experience and knowledge of the park 

 gained by Richard P. Ditton of the Yosemite Park and Curry Company 

 through 14 years of residence in the area, and that of Donald E. 

 McHenry, Park Naturalist for over 9 years, assisted extensively by 

 members of the naturalist staff, especially Douglass H. Hubbard, 

 Wayne W. Bryant, Ruth Glass and Helen Doty as well as by Laurence 

 V. Degnan, and by helpful suggestions from National Park Service 

 and Company officials. 



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V \ John C. Preston, Superintendent 



