CHAPTER IX THE YOSEMITE SAN FRANCISCO - YOSEMITE VALLEY Morning trains on both the Santa Fe and Southern Pacific Roads arrive in about 5 hours at Merced (150 miles east of San Fran- cisco), where passengers transfer at 2:40 P.M. to the Yosemite Valley Railroad. The trip westward, 78 miles along the Merced River, ends at El Portal (The Gate) at 6:20. The night is passed at the Hotel del Portal. At 7:30 the following morning the daily stage departs for a 14- mile drive to the centre of the Valley (Sentinel Hotel). Night trains carry through sleepers, which connect with the morning stage at El Portal. Total distance, San Francisco - Yosemite Village, about 245 miles. The Yosemite is now open all the year; in the winter there is only one train a day. Return fare (rail and stage) San Francisco - Yosemite Village, $22.35. Bag- gage allowance, 150 pounds free on train, 50 pounds on stage. Stop-overs granted at Merced 1 on all classes of tickets. Travellers from San Francisco, or from the south, who prefer to enter the Valley by way of Wawona and the Mariposa Grove may leave the Southern Pacific at Be- renda, 26 miles south of Merced, and take the branch rail- road to Raymond (21 m.). Raymond - Wawona, 44 miles, single fare $6.50 by i Return fare Merced - Yosemite, $18.50; Los Angeles - Yosemite, $31.20, via Fresno. Distance, Los Angeles - Merced, 334 miles. 192
