or November, by hunters, prospectors, and stock-owners, and to some extent by enterprising pleasure-seekers also.  For, besides the surpassing grandeur of the scenery about the summit, the trail, in ascending the western flank of the range, conducts through a grove of the giant Sequoias, and through the magnificent Yosemite Valley of the south fork of King’s River.  This is, perhaps, the highest traveled pass on the North American continent.

[Illustration:  MAP OF THE YOSEMITE VALLEY, SHOWING PRESENT RESERVATION BOUNDARY.]

The Mono Pass lies to the east of Yosemite Valley, at the head of one of the tributaries of the south fork of the Tuolumne.  This is the best known and most extensively traveled of all that exist in the High Sierra.  A trail was made through it about the time of the Mono gold excitement, in the year 1858, by adventurous miners and prospectors—­men who would build a trail down the throat of darkest Erebus on the way to gold.  Though more than a thousand feet lower than the Kearsarge, it is scarcely less sublime in rock-scenery, while in snowy, falling water it far surpasses it.  Being so favorably situated for the stream of Yosemite travel, the more adventurous tourists cross over through this glorious gateway to the volcanic region around Mono Lake.  It has therefore gained a name and fame above every other pass in the range.  According to the few barometrical observations made upon it, its highest point is 10,765 feet above the sea.  The other pass of the five we have been considering is somewhat lower, and crosses the axis of the range a few miles to the north of the Mono Pass, at the head of the southernmost tributary of Walker’s River.  It is used chiefly by roaming bands of the Pah Ute Indians and “sheepmen.”

But, leaving wheels and animals out of the question, the free mountaineer with a sack of bread on his shoulders and an ax to cut steps in ice and frozen snow can make his way across the range almost everywhere, and at any time of year when the weather is calm.  To him nearly every notch between the peaks is a pass, though much patient step-cutting is at times required up and down steeply inclined glaciers, with cautious climbing over precipices that at first sight would seem hopelessly inaccessible.

In pursuing my studies, I have crossed from side to side of the range at intervals of a few miles all along the highest portion of the chain, with far less real danger than one would naturally count on.  And what fine wildness was thus revealed—­storms and avalanches, lakes and waterfalls, gardens and meadows, and interesting animals—­only those will ever know who give the freest and most buoyant portion of their lives to climbing and seeing for themselves.