Tag: Tunnel View

Tunnel View is a famous overhanging viewpoint in Yosemite National Park. From here Yosemite Valley stretches out before you, displaying majestic granite cliffs, forests, sky, and clouds. It was immortalized by Ansel Adams with his wonderful photograph Clearing Winter Storm. The panorama is bounded by El Capitan on the left and Cathedral Rocks on the right. Before Cathedral Rocks, Bridalveil Fall tumbles over the cliff. Beyond, the eye captures Sentinel Rock, Half Dome, and Clouds Rest.

Tunnel View was the viewpoint from which the first white visitors to Yosemite saw the wonders of Yosemite Valley. In March 1851, members of the Mariposa Battalion were pursuing the indigenous people of Yosemite at the time of the Mariposa Indian War. These were the Ahwahneechees, who had lived in the valley for over 3,000 years. War had broken out between Native Americans and new settlers in California during the Gold Rush. The Ahwahneechees had come into conflict with prospectors and the new traders. Initial skirmishes had turned violent and led to murder. The new State Governor authorized the establishment of the Mariposa Battalion to make treaties with the indigenous groups and take them into reservations.

The historical fiction Great Spirit of Yosemite: The Story of Chief Tenaya re-tells the intrepid tale of Chief Tenaya, his family, and people as they courageously try to protect their way of life in the valley and to resist removal from their homelands.

The following extract from the book describes the soldiers’ vision as they came to the overhang:

“Late in the afternoon of March 27, 1851, the Companies came to a ledge hanging out, overlooking a valley. And what a vision: looking down and down at raggy, white clouds sailing over black bands of forest, floating away on the eye until the last visible scarp merged with mist, sunlight glittering on rusty crags rising on all sides, raging rivers spilling over immense cliffs.”