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Sierra Club Bulletin 



THROUGH THE TUOLUMNE CANON 



By Ellen" T. Emerson 



To all the novices on the 1914 outing the "Tuolumne Canon 

 Trip," as described by old-timers, seemed like an endless series 

 of barbed wire entanglements separating an easy existence in 

 the lap of luxury from an intimate knowledge of the sternest 

 realities of life. Anyone rash enough to attempt the cross- 

 ing of this barrier, if he survived at all, must emerge from it 

 scarred, battered, famished, clothed only in tatters, but able 

 henceforth to cope with all natural obstacles — a proven Sierran. 

 Should we try? Was the reward worth the effort? We de- 

 bated. 



At last, on July 20th, at camp on Conness Creek, a number 

 of us joined the veteran expeditionary forces as raw recruits. 

 We drew our rations, sorted out a few necessities from the 

 thirty pounds of luxuries in our dunnage and lay down for our 

 last night of safe and sane slumber. 



Tuesday, July 21st, saw the expedition, six officers, each 

 commanding ten or twelve privates, set forth for the Cafion. 

 Martial law was proclaimed and straggling was not permit- 

 ted, although during the first morning's march a vast crowd of 

 camp-followers, including a moving picture artist, accompa- 

 nied the army to see the marvelous water-wheel falls. We 

 crossed Conness Creek and followed the north bank of the 

 Tuolumne, finding a fair trail at first and later enjoying the 

 chance to "shoot the chutes" over long stretches of damp and 

 slippery granite slides. The changes of our expressions dur- 

 ing this pastime, as they passed from pleased anticipation 

 through frozen horror into delighted relief have, I trust, been 

 immortalized by Mr. Pillsbury. 



To many of us the water-wheels and the splendid rush 

 of white water over the smooth ledges between, were the most 

 beautiful sight of the trip. We even envied the camp-followers 

 who could stay all day to enjoy it, while we must press on 

 after a tantalizingly short stay. At noon we bade the escort 



