Fri 19 May 1922
Mary's Journal Entry
cloudy morn rained little last nite I washed out shirts then wrote letters & cards pa went to C.C. & Yos. village in camp rest of time eve. C.C.
Letter Sent Home
Dear ones all
we are still in the valey got her Sunday after 26 miles over hills from Wawona where we camped Sat. night after coming sixty-five miles Sa over the same kind of roads some hills so steep made Lizzie snort & ma pushed her up 4 times believe me but here in the valey the roads are fine valey 8 miles long average 1 mile wide we are camped in camp no. 16 under pines 4 ft in diam - 175 ft high mid way between the vilage & camp curry which is where all of the guests that come in by train stay they have music speaking singing & movies around a campfire every night & at 9 o’c a fire fall from Glacier point 3217 strait up above the camp all free have been there every evening sure fine Monday & Tues road around park or valey took in all to be seen that way Wed took foot trail up merced Riv to Vernal (3 miles) & Nevada (4 miles) falls. ma went to vernal then waited there for me to come back some climb all the way both stood it fine yesterday I went to Glacier point 3217 ft. by trail 4 miles & climb all the way the last half through paths where snow was above ones head. some going. left camp 7 AM got back at 6 PM but spent some time rubbering at sights also helped the man that puts fire over cliff fall a tree that was 4 ft at stump he had used up all wood near Point so was real pleased to get help said would put some over by our camp for us his name is Galiga have taken a lot of pictures of valey there is so many pretty points & more watter coming over the Falls than in some years there is 8 or 10 different falls some are small streams but look pretty & drop so far one 200 feet called Ribbon Falls there is to be an auto contest in the valey sat & sun from Los A- San Francisco to see which can make it the cheapest do not know if we will be here or not. want to go out by the Meriposa big trees which is 8 miles from Wawona the roads are not open all the way yet cars got as far as the fallen Giant yesterday the men are trying to clear the rest of the way fine & warm in valey. want to be in Sacremento the week of 25 as there is to be a 49ers exhibition there everything to be as it was in that time well this all both well with love to all Pa
Pa just went to Camp Curry to get post cards. (so he said, excuse) & said there read my letter & finish it. I don’t know what he expects me to write. well the first I want to tell Wilfred & Fern that at last I have found where “Santa” keeps his reindeer right here in this valley with mountains & snow all around them. the hot sun made them pant the P.M. we were there. pa told about fire falls but did not say what made them. they light a camp fire up there the same time they do in “Camp Curry” about 7:30 then at 9 o’clock C.C. puts out lights & calls up to Galliger (as they call him) some times you can hear him ans. back 3217 feet. about C.C. then he pushes the coals &c over board & it makes “fire falls” it is very pretty. while fire is falling they play & sing 2 verses twice they played “Holy Night” on violin. beat singing (my notion) am going to ring off. so long. Ma
Well that pa did get some cards & stamps & I have 13 ready to mail & he took 3 down when he went. most of them to people we visited. they all said let us hear from you on your way. so it keeps me going. pa just left for C.C. again - took cards along - to get the pict. he took yes. at Glacier point & on the way there. he has been having the films developed & the good ones printed (one of each) we are anxious to see them before we go out of here. expect it will bankrupt us it costs like fury & more films all the time he has filled 4 films in this little place. what will Yellowstone be maby none at all always go to extremes. gee but it’s cool more clothes again it’s been cloudy all day. some of the campers have a couple of big pine stumps piled up & set on fire they call it a “community fire” as many sit around it as like. guess we go to C.C. & then to bed as its near 10 when we get back. Yes. I hooked a string over my false tooth & give it a quick jerk & away my bridge flew pillers & all. & I hunted an hour till I found them there they lay side of a tree & never said a word. I hated to do it but they were so loose I dared not sneeze. I could get along but one of them the nerve was bare had to take my drinks & eats warm. you know how I like a good cold drink. well we parted once for all today I’ve been eating & drinking with ease. I wrote Edi to lend me her false teeth. she’ll take them out & send them. (thats all this time.)