2l6 



Sierra Club Bulletin. 



again by different Boards of Commissioners to this 

 important office on account of his efficiency and real love 

 of the valley. 



Although nearly all my mountaineering has been done 

 alone, I had the pleasure of having Galen Clark with me 

 on three excursions. About thirty-five years ago I invited 

 him to accompany me on a trip through the big Tuolumne 

 Canon from Hetch Hetchy Valley. The canon up to 

 that time had not been explored, and, knowing that the 

 difference in the elevation of the river at the upper and 

 lower ends of the canon amounted to about 5,000 feet, 

 we expected to find some magnificent cataracts or falls; 

 nor were we disappointed. It was while exploring this 

 rough cafion that Mr. Clark's skill and endurance as a 

 mountaineer was displayed. Before leaving Yosemite 

 Valley for Hetch Hetchy to begin our hard trip, a 

 Yosemite tourist, an ambitious young man, begged leave 

 to join us. I strongly advised him not to attempt such a 

 trip, as nothing was known of the canon, and on account 

 of its great depth and length it would undoubtedly prove 

 very trying to an inexperienced climber. He assured us, 

 however, that he was able for anything, would gladly meet 

 every difficulty as it came, and cause no hindrance or 

 trouble of any sort ; so at last, after repeating our advice 

 that he give up the trip, we consented to his joining us. 

 We entered the canon by way of Hetch Hetchy Valley, 

 each carrying his own provisions and making his own tea, 

 porridge, beds, etc. 



In the morning of the second day out from Hetch 

 Hetchy we came to what is now known as the Muir Gorge, 

 and Mr. Clark without hesitation began to force a way 

 through it, wading and jumping from one submerged 

 slippery boulder to another through the torrent, bracing 

 himself with a stout pole. Though then at a time of 

 rather low water, the roar and swift surging of the cur- 

 rent was nerve-trying. I managed to get our adventur- 

 ous tourist safely through the gorge by lending a hand 

 at the wildest places, but this experience, naturally 



