Yosemite National Park
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Medlicott Dome Yosemite National Park |
August 24, 2020
This is Day #2 of our mission to escape the horrible air quality that currently pervades the Sacramento Valley due to hundreds of active forest fires. Yesterday, we had quite an adventure over by Tioga Pass. Today the air quality is somewhat better, so I am hoping to utilize my handy Yosemite access permit in order to treat my four friends to something new and different.
Starting up a little-known climbers' trail is sure to be different
This route is utilized primarily by rock climbers interested in the nearby vertical cliff face; it also just happens to be a fascinating shortcut to some very special places that generally are accessed by a particularly boring section of the John Muir Trail. (Yes, there is such a thing.)
Last night's rain has left the area pleasantly damp
Although this trail is not on any park maps, a modicum of construction has been done in the way of stone steps and the like. This is good, because much of the initial going is relatively steep.
Approaching a tricky S-curve in the route
Getting around that big square boulder involves traversing an exposed shelf that is only a foot or so wide. Everyone manages that without opting for the safer scramble on the other side of the rock.
The colorful face of Medlicott Dome
No climbers are here today, which is too bad. It would have been fun to see them in action on any of the dozens of named routes.
On the Magic Bench
This thin flat ledge halfway up the granite wall, not visible as such from elsewhere, almost effortlessly transports us up a couple hundred feet.
View to the north
The southward vista includes Tenaya Peak and Tenaya Lake
At the end of the bench, we get to start heading up some granite slabs.
I like it
Suddenly, the first objective appears through the trees.
Lower Cathedral Lake, and an inexplicably unnamed rampart
Just over a mile away is Cathedral Peak, John Muir's favorite mountain
North of us is a long, fairly gentle slope of granite; our mission is to follow it as far up as it goes.
The climbing begins
To the west is Mount Hoffman, the geographical center of the park
Making good progress
No climbers are in evidence on Cathedral Peak, 10912'
Our destination comes into view
With the aid of many brief rest stops, we eat away at the requisite elevation gain. Having spent most of yesterday at high altitude has helped with acclimation.
Easy going on the "Great Sierra Highway" of friendly slabs
Near the summit, an eight-foot wall presents a challenge; but there is one place to clamber up through a niche. After that, there is no stopping us.
Eileen and David are the first to join me on the summit
The view up here is an incredible 360-degree panorama!
To the northeast are Liberty and Lembert Domes, Mount Conness, and Mount Dana
Just north of us is Mariuolumne Dome, which actually is in a different county
A 'secret' lake and a land of little domes
South of us are Tenaya Peak, Tenaya Lake, Mount Hoffman, and Half Dome in the
haze
By inching over to the edge of the precipice despite a fairly strong breeze, I manage a photo of another relatively secret attraction:
I call it Lake of the Domes. Most folk don't know that it exists.
Ironically enough, the Tioga Road is less than a mile away from these features, out of sight and in a different world.
Eileen poses in front of my own favorite mountain
Still no climbers in evidence
I have numerous photographs of activity over there, but everyone seems to have stayed home today. John Muir was the first to climb that peak, and with no equipment other than good boots.
Lembert Dome almost shimmers in the sunlight
After snacking at one of the most spectacular lunch spots ever, it is time to head back.
Cindy makes it down...
...David and Paul follow
Negotiating the wall
Descending the 600 feet to the lake should be a cakewalk from here.
This is why I go hiking
In the center distance is Tresidder Peak. The remarkable Park Superintendent
Donald Tresidder built the Ahwahnee Hotel, the Camp Curry dining facility, the Badger
Pass Ski Area, and the High-Sierra camps — and all while doubling as
President of Stanford University!
This also is why I go hiking
We didn't spot the Lake of the Domes on the way up
I opt to guide the group somewhat eastward of our ascent route, off the slabs and into the forest, so as to access Lower Cathedral Lake at a different point.
The Echo Peaks are back there
Across the way is just the second person we have seen on this entire trek, doing something unexpected.
She would like this photo, but she probably will never know
I hope to return here next season
Walking along the beach is delightful
We were up there somewhere
It's time to head back down the Magic Bench.
Staying on the trail is best, but not required
Sublime
Whoa! That orange splotch on the cliff to the right is my clue that this is our
exit-point. Surely enough, a glance over to the left reveals the marker
placed there earlier just for this purpose. We had walked right past it.
'X' does mark the spot
About fifty feet down from the bench, I find what I believe is the place where I took the wrong route on a previous visit (Hike #305), causing myself extra difficulty. Today I am ready for it.
A hard right turn here is the answer
Presently, we are back at the tricky exposed passage, which everyone insists upon repeating even though the risk is optional.
Piece of cake
Easy or not, after everyone is safely across, David proclaims that, "We're all going to live!" After another 300 vertical feet of moderately rough going, that proves to be the case.
Finishing up
Always a welcome sight
§: Well, we certainly got our "different" fix! And for the second
day in a row, we encountered almost no other hikers. Go figure. My friends
can add this one to their list of "done-thats" that would not otherwise have been
considered, and it is my great pleasure to share such places.
I still want to loop down alongside those two little lakes, though, as per the original plan. Maybe next time.
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The "Magic Bench" route in 3-D
