72 



YOSEMITE NATURE NOTES 



stone work seen along the river to protect 



the bank from erosion and saves the tree. 

 Sugar pines are normally found at a 

 higher elevation. Their cones have been 

 known to grow up to 26" in length. 



V INDIAN CAVES. Indian Caves 

 <%m are the site of an old Indian camp 

 Z ' known as either HOL-LOW or 

 LAH-KOO-HAH. See if you can find 

 the flat rock near the caves where In- 

 dian women pounded acorns from the 

 black oak, their principal food. The 

 caves were used for temporary shelter 

 during severe weather, for refuge from 

 enemies, and for storage. The Indians of 

 Yosemitc normally dwelt in wigwam- 

 like structures of incense cedar bark call- 

 ed "uma-chas," described more fully in 

 "Indians of Yosemite." 



V MIRROR LAKE, is at its best in 



*%«% spring and early summer when the 



absence of wind during early morn- 



ing hours makes perfect reflections pos- 

 sible on its surface. This lake was 

 formed by rock slides from the cliff 

 wills which dammed Tenaya Creek 

 some years ago. Filling in rapidly (as 

 did ancient Lake Yosemite which formed 

 the valley floor), Mirror Lake will prob- 

 ably disappear within a decade or so. 

 Even now it all but dries up every au- 

 tumn. Tenaya Creek, which feeds this 

 lake, starts above Tenaya Lake near Tu- 

 olumne Meadows, and cascades from 

 that lake into the upper part of the Te- 

 naya box canyon. Annual Easter Sun- 

 rise services are held on the shore of 

 Mirror Lake. 



CLOUD'S REST is the steep-sided 

 mountain just beyond towering Half 

 Dome. 



MT. WATKINS across the canyon from 

 Cloud's Rest is the peak which is reflect- 

 ed in Mirror Lake. The peak is 4,23 5 feet 

 high and is named for Carleton E. Wat- 

 kins, a pioneer Yosemite photographer. 



Mirror Lake in spring 



