Notes and Correspondence 



also made it safe, and I was able to mount almost to the very head of 

 the field before being forced to the rocks. I had chosen to cross the 

 snow-field to the southeasterly side, intending to make the final climb 

 along the left-hand sky-line. On reaching the rocks, however, this route 

 looked very difficult for a man alone, so I began to prospect for a safer 

 way. I had fully made up my mind to turn back if absolute safety was 

 not assured. After a little investigation I found that there were several 

 fairly wide ledges running at a slight angle across the face of the tower. 

 I followed these along to the right, mounting occasionally from one to 

 another until I was well around toward the westerly side of the peak. 

 Mindful of King's adventure, I half expected to encounter some impos- 

 sible stretch or to find myself in some cul-de-sac and perhaps be denied 

 the summit when within a few feet of it. I knew that I was getting very 

 near the top, but could not tell as yet just where it was. There might be 

 a split summit, and I might be on the wrong side of the split. I wedged 

 myself in between two large rocks and crawled up a little higher. Then 

 I looked up, and there, only ten feet away, stood the cairn of rocks that 

 marked the summit. In another moment I was on top. 



The isolated position of Mount Clark gives it a commanding range 

 over the whole Merced basin. Its precipitous sides make the glimpses 

 of snow-fields, lakes, and forests far below most impressive. Yosemite 

 Valley, lying deep in shadow, has an air of mystery, enhanced by the 

 gleam of silver where the waters of Yosemite Creek pour silently into 

 the dark chasm. 



For an hour I enjoyed the superb prospect and then reluctantly pre- 

 pared to descend. I returned by the same route as far as the snow- 

 field, and then, abandoning my morning footsteps, followed the water- 

 courses from the melting snow imtil I came to the timber-lands. Here 

 I came upon the vestiges of a trail that appears on the maps as the 

 Mount Clark Trail. I found it badly out of repair and almost obliter- 

 ated in some places. It is very steep, and in its present condition not at 

 all suited to animals. It reaches the river halfway between Lake Wash- 

 burn and Merced Lake. From that point on it is plain walking into 

 camp. I reached camp at five o'clock, having been gone about eight 

 hours. The trip could be made very easily in less time by one familiar 

 with the way. 



Before leaving Merced Lake I climbed another mountain that should 

 enjoy greater popularity. Mount Florence (12,507 feet) commands in 

 some ways a finer view than Mount Qark. It is close to such spectacu- 

 lar peaks as Lyell, McClure, Rodgers, Electra, and Foerster, while just 

 beyond are Banner, Ritter, and The Minarets. The view is similar to 

 that from Lyell, though much more comprehensive, and the ascent is 

 comparatively easy. The trip can be made in about ten hours from Mer- 

 ced Lake. The most direct route is to follow the McClure Fork trail up 

 from the Merced until the Isberg Pass trail branches off. The Isberg 

 Pass trail leads across a broad plateau that lies between Mount Flor- 



