how to upgrade from yosemite to high sierra

What type and year model is this Mac...?

select Apple > About This Mac

For older Mac's, see the options at > How to download and install macOS - Apple Support

[Presuming that your Mac is qualified for later versions] if you have a working macOS, be sure you have applied ALL available upgrades Mavericks or Yosemite to get Safari 9 in place.

Use MacOS to get the newer version. Do not remove MacOS or drop back to Recovery. Use the article den.thed posted to get a download of 10.11 El Capitan as a waypoint, and later versions will be easier after that is installed.