Geologist Alfred C. Lane once wrote, “The progress of knowledge is like the growth of a coral reef; each generation builds upon that which has been left behind by those who have gone before.” So it is with this volume. I have drawn upon so many sources of information in presenting this geologic story of Yosemite that it is impossible to acknowledge the individual contributions of each. This is especially true of the historical material and of the numerous works that have delineated the regional geologic framework within which I have placed Yosemite. For those who wish to delve further into various aspects of Yosemite history and geology, several pertinent references, briefly annotated, are listed in the bibliography; these, in turn, will lead to additional source materials.

I must, however, specifically acknowledge the modern geologic mapping and detailed studies by my U.S. Geological Survey colleagues that made possible the present volume, as well as the new geologic map of Yosemite National Park published separately (Huber and others, in press). For that foundation and for their continuing support and contributions, I thank Paul Bateman, Lew Calk, Frank Dodge, Bill Keith, Ron Kistler, Dallas Peck, Dean Rinehart, Jim Seitz, and Clyde Wahrhaftig. Clyde Wahrhaftig also developed the explanation for the formation of weather pans, described on page 36.

Julie Roller assisted me in the field and in the early stages of writing this volume and compiling the geologic map. Thoughtful manuscript reviews were provided by many of my colleagues, as well as by Genny Smith of Palo Alto and Mammoth Lakes, Calif., and Jim Sano of the National Park Service. Finally, during excursions to Yosemite, the hospitality and enthusiastic support of every member of the Park Service staff there contributed significantly to the success of the project. Jan van Wagtendonk was particularly helpful in assisting with logistic support. Thanks are also due to the individuals and organizations permitting use of their photographs; those not by myself are credited in the captions, except for the frontispiece, which was contributed by Dallas Peck. Throughout the process of illustrating this volume, I have had the distinct pleasure of drawing upon and working with the artistic talents of cartographer Tau Rho Alpha and illustrator Susan Mayfield. In particular, Tau created the oblique views of Yosemite’s physiography (fig. 6) and the Tioga glaciation (fig. 67), and the panorama from Mount Hoffman (fig. 5). The oblique views (figs. 6, 67) have been published in much-enlarged, more detailed versions as U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Investigations Series Maps I-1776 and I-1885, respectively.

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