Hidden Yosemite: Royal Arches 🧺, Indian Canyon (Tahachee)🌲, Ahwahnee (land of the gaping mouth)🗣️

Hidden Yosemite: The Royal Arches, Indian Canyon (Tahachee), Ahwahnee (land of the gaping mouth)

Wikipedia:
The Royal Arches is a large granite cliff face on the north side of Yosemite Valley, known for its series of arch-shaped indentations carved by exfoliation. The cliff rises impressively above the valley, located northeast of the Ahwahnee Hotel, with North Dome sitting above it.
Geological features
Exfoliation arches: Unlike literal arches, the Royal Arches are large indentations in the cliff face created over thousands of years as layers of rock peel away, similar to an onion.
Royal Arch Cascade: The Royal Arches are located next to the seasonal Royal Arch Cascade waterfall, which flows well during the spring melt season but typically runs dry by June.
Distinct rock: The wall is composed of white granite with striking black streaks running down it.

Rock climbing
A classic route: The Royal Arches area is a popular rock climbing destination, with routes ranging in difficulty. The most popular route is the classic Royal Arches Route, first climbed in 1936.
Range of routes: The climbing area spans from the Church Bowl to Washington Column and offers a variety of routes for different skill levels.
Rockfall
Hot weather risks: Like many cliffs in Yosemite, the Royal Arches are prone to rockfall. Research has shown that very hot weather can cause cracks in the granite to expand and trigger rockfalls.
New cracks: A new crack was reported in the cliff in August 2023.

The Royal Arches received their name from a member of the Mariposa Battalion when they entered Yosemite Valley in 1851. The name was chosen by Lafayette Bunnell, the battalion's surgeon, who was responsible for naming many of the valley's landmarks.
The name was likely inspired by the impression of regality and majesty conveyed by the large, concentric, semi-circular exfoliation arches visible on the cliff face.
Native American names
Prior to the Mariposa Battalion, the Royal Arches were known by different names to Native Americans:
"Scho-ko-ni": A name that translates to either "baby basket," referring to its shape, or "shade for a baby".
"Cho-ko-nip-o-deh": An alternate name with a similar meaning to "Scho-ko-ni".
"Hun-to": Recorded in Bancroft's Tourist Guide as translating to "watching eye".
"Sho-ko-ya": An indigenous name for the adjacent Royal Arch Cascade waterfall, meaning "the basket fall" in reference to nearby North Dome.
Naming context
The Mariposa Battalion is also credited with giving the name "Yosemite" to the valley itself, based on a misinterpreted indigenous word for "killer". Many place names in Yosemite have roots from this time period.

The Ahwahnee is a historic, luxury hotel and a National Historic Landmark located in Yosemite National Park. Built in 1927, it was designed to attract affluent visitors and features a distinctive blend of Art Deco, Native American, and Arts & Crafts architectural styles.
The Ahwahnee Hotel | Reservations and History | Yosemite.com
The Ahwahnee Hotel Yosemite | The Fascinating History of ...
History
Conception and construction: The first director of the National Park Service, Stephen Mather, commissioned the hotel in the 1920s. Famed architect Gilbert Stanley Underwood designed the grand lodge to accommodate a high-end clientele.
Building materials: The hotel was constructed using steel, 5,000 tons of granite, 1,000 tons of steel, and 30,000 feet of timber. To minimize fire risk, the concrete was stained to resemble redwood.
Name origin: "Ahwahnee" is the Native American name for Yosemite Valley, meaning "land of the gaping mouth," which describes the dramatic cliffs of the valley.
Hospital use: During World War II, the U.S. Navy used the hotel as a convalescent hospital for wounded veterans.
Name change: From 2016 to 2019, due to a legal dispute, the hotel was temporarily renamed The Majestic Yosemite Hotel.

Architecture and interior design
Great Lounge: A massive public space with soaring 24-foot ceilings, huge stone fireplaces, and stunning stained-glass windows.
Ahwahnee Dining Room: This iconic dining space features 34-foot-high ceilings, giant sugar-pine trusses, and floor-to-ceiling windows with views of Yosemite's cliffs and waterfalls. Dinner requires formal attire.

Notable visitors
Royalty: Queen Elizabeth II
Presidents: John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, and Barack Obama
Hollywood figures: Walt Disney and Judy Garland
Accommodations
The Ahwahnee offers several bungalow rooms. However, some recent reviews have noted that the rooms can feel outdated.

Summit Post:
Historical and geographical features
Indian Canyon Creek: A creek runs through the canyon year-round, making for a challenging scramble over and alongside boulders in its streambed. In the fall, the lower section of the creek can run dry.
Lehamite Falls: The canyon contains Lehamite Falls, a waterfall that is a thin cascade of water and most visible during the spring snowmelt.