..ftcr vhese disappointing e.cperienoea. my last hope 

 in the renowned and eminently dependable clinc.te of California, 

 and ny hopes \vere partially confirmed by a two-hxmdred mile 

 automobile trip through the Cleveland, and the Ilt.Lcwe trip on 

 -geles, both in ideal weather, and a very exciting thoxigh 

 duaty trr^y up ..rroyo 3eoo, in whioh Supervisor Charlton, oxir 

 driver, left no atone unturned or no part of our anatony un- 

 jolted. I felt that In this state I had at last an eqiu.ble 

 oli.:.^. Xowevor, I would play safa, before going into the 7or- 

 eata further north. I would wait until late spring, when the 

 sun shone seven days a week, when the streams would be full 

 iron, the melted snws, when the early summer wild flowera 

 would bed.eo]' the hillaidea in a profuaion of color. 



11, r.s you rr.a ' remember, I returned from the southern 

 half of tlin i oreat, drenched, but I had nothing on the ..'oreat 

 itself, for it liad been going through the drenching process 

 for a wee}, prior to my invaaion and continued the experience 

 for a week after I swan ashore. rlo'vev*yr, I did not oonaider 

 a moment allowing a little ''unuaual" weather to detain ae 

 fror. enjoying the wondera of the northern half of California's 

 blue ribbon Porest, and was cuite prepared to start northward 

 next da-:'. 3ut ny trusting diapesition was tocmed to receive 

 another jolt. The blinding enow, whioh like a London fog (or 

 to get nearer hon, like the San Tranoisco variety) hid all 

 the landscape from my view beyond the garden sate on that seo- 

 ond day of Hay, convinced me that I ahould not be able to ae much 



of the Torest while the atom was In progreaa. I apent a 

 restful Sunday indoors and a profitable Monday and '.Tuesday near 



the heat registers of the Supervisor 's office, learning at 

 very close quarters how a Poreat ia run. The atorm cane to an 

 end on "ednesday, and my kindly and patient guide, the Deputy 

 jv.perviaor, le ne forth a^ain. '.'e made Treane Plata that af- 

 -noon, by an eaay ride, and llariposa Station the next night, 

 after taking in aeveral 7oreat honeateads, the Crane Valley 

 power development and the focthilla of an entirely different 

 oo tn try fror. what I had aeen aouth of i:orthfork. The snow had 



l3a_r>ee.refi froa our course aa rapidly as it had appeared, and 

 Ranger Holeocl had assured ua, over the telephone, that at Jer- 

 seydale, at least, we would find the prodigal arm. Sure enough 

 mornins it did shine, and right jauntily we three, Iloreod, 



or dan and I, lode forth. I think I had raved over much in Ko- 

 leod's hearing the night before, of the unaurpaaaed aoenio 

 beauties of the Upper San Joaruin Valley and of other aplendora 



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