Yosemite National Park
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Puppy Dome & Pothole Dome Yosemite National Park |
August 2, 2017
PUPPY DOME
After wearing myself out yesterday over at Mono Pass, I have opted to take it easy today; for tomorrow I plan to try my luck on Mount Dana, and a day of rest and acclimation won't hurt my cause.
Right next to the John Muir Trail Permit Station is a little dome that gets little attention. I know that it can be accessed, because I watched a man and his dog do it from the summit of nearby Lembert Dome a few years ago.
I start out by walking alongside the same creek that I was compelled to ford twice yesterday. Today I will keep my feet dry.
Dana Fork Tuolumne River
Beautiful
White Fibercap (poisonous)
After exploring the creekside, I finally get a view of the rock:
Puppy Dome awaits me
A climb of perhaps a hundred and fifty feet gets me to the edge of the rock.
It looks like fun
I opt to go straight up
My regular boots still are wet from yesterday's creek crossing, so I am wearing just my regular shoes. Their Vibram soles ought to work just fine, however. Slipping slightly just once, I manage the steep ascent without difficulty. Being above the trees, the summit provides great views all around.
Fairview and Marmot Domes on the left, Daff and West Cottage Domes on the right
Lembert Dome is just across the highway
Unicorn Peak and Cathedral Peak to the west
A safe and friendly route off the dome is as simple as following a crack in the rock.
Piece of cake
This path leads directly to a steep but well-kept trail down the hill.
Someone is maintaining this path
Across the way, a hiker has come part way down from the top of Lembert Dome, seemingly entreating others below to join him.
Living on the edge
Hanging in the visitor center
POTHOLE DOME
Opting to drive down to the Tenaya Lake area for some more action, I am repelled by smoke from a controlled fire. Returning to the meadows, I stop at a popular, previously visited dome.
The trail skirts the fragile meadow
What is this about?
At the first reasonable opportunity, I start climbing up a 35% gradient.
No trail needed here
The views over here are even better than those from Puppy Dome.
Cathedral Peak & Eichorn Pinnacle
Looking south
Looking north
I spot some activity on another dome about three-quarters
of a mile to the west.
Do I see hikers over there?
Yes, a bunch of them
I need to put that dome on my list of future challenges.
Looking east
There is a trail below, on the north side of the dome
Heading north off Pothole Dome
The last time I went this way, I continued all the way down to the gorgeous Tuolumne Falls; but today I'm supposed to be taking it easy.
Whoa! What's this?
Two climbers on a 'bunny' slope
The ubiquitous Mount Conness, 12689'
Getting off the northwest corner of Pothole Dome is easy, and soon I locate the climbers' trail.
Just west of the dome
It's a student above and a teacher below
Cockscomb
Rejoining the trail
A couple of little kids want to start up the dome sooner than where others do. I doubt whether mom is pleased with the idea, but she lets them go.
The boy wants a challenge
His little sister is leading now
Made it!
BONUS WALK
This one isn't actually in Yosemite Park at all, but lies
just outside the park entrance. A quarter-mile
loop around a lake details some fun nature facts.
My new wheels — a 2017 Outback
I wanted another red car; but because of existing inventory it would have cost thousands more, so "Tungsten" it is. My faithful readership will be seeing more of it, of course.
Starting the loop
Oops! Ahead is a depressing sight — something I never expected to see in such a pristine environment.
This hideous excuse for a bench is broken
Whoever authorized the construction and placement of that contraption is in the wrong line of work. The least that the Forest Service could do now would be to get rid of the damn thing.
The lake is beautiful
Tioga Peak looms
Oh my God! There's another one, and it's worse than the other one.
The composition resembles styrofoam, only harder
Resisting an urge to cry, I move on.
The back side of the lake
Nice colors
AFTER
On the way down the pass, I encounter another depressing sight.
It seems that the Tioga Lodge did not survive the winter snow storms.
I enjoyed the cute little knotty-pine cafe in the corner; I hope
that it reopens by next season so I can eat there again.
They need to get to work on this place
Looking to pass some more time this afternoon, I drive up the Poole Power Plant Road for the first time. Near the end is an amazing campsite located right next to a big, noisy cascade.
Canyon Creek at Big Bend Campground, Tioga Canyon
After taking in a movie at the great Visitor Center just outside of Lee Vining, I finish up the day on the shore of North America's oldest and possibly most interesting lake.
Paoha Island in Mono Lake
§: These were fun diversions, designed to prevent me
from wearing myself out today; for tomorrow I will tackle Mount Dana.
| Scenery |  |
| Difficulty |  |
| Solitude | |
| Adventure | |
The two dome walks
