DATE 6/22/2016
TITLE Tuolumne Domes
IDS 6179 32800 5307 32929
GROUP dozier_dome_1 peak_9,205ft_n2_1 lembert_dome_2 dog_dome_1
June is one of my least favorite times to be in the Sierra, owing to the 
preponderance of mosquitoes that come out during that month. On the other hand,
temperatures begin to climb in other parts of the state around this time, and
this weekend was forecast to be a scorcher - 100F in the major valleys and 
deserts, 90s throughout much of the northern and southern parts of California.
I hit upon the idea of visiting the White Mtns on their east side, primarily to
tackle about 10 summits found in Zdon's book, <i>Desert Summits</i>, that I'd
yet to visit. I was scheduled to meet Patrick on Thursday afternoon which gave
me two half days to do some hiking and scrambling in Yosemite. I timed my drive
from San Jose to coincide with the hottest part of the day, not arriving at 
Tenaya Lake until nearly 5p. By then the temperatures were starting to subside
while I still had more than three hours' time to play.
<h4>Dozier Dome</h4>
Located about 1.5mi NE of Tenaya Lake, Dozier Dome lies beneath the south side 
of the more massive Medlicott Dome. Because it
lies about 3/4mi from SR120, it is not all that visible unless one knows where
to look. The NW Face is a 400-foot wall that is said to have some respectable
rock climbing routes. I parked at a small turnout on the east side of the road,
crossed <P1>Tenaya Creek</a> and spent about 20min wandering 
<P2>through the forest</a> to <P3>the base</a> of the dome. I 
<P4>turned right</a> and started climbing up along the base of the
cliffs until I reached the easier slabs on the <P6>southwest side</a>. 
The scrambling is no more than class 3 with a fine view of <P5>the cascades</a> 
descending from Cathedral Lakes to the south. The <P7>summit block</a> is an 
imposing 10-foot granite boulder, made easy by a few well-placed stepping 
boulders to aid the ascent
(The first two look to have been placed there by human effort. Though they
aren't actually helpful for the ascent, they add a sense of symmetry and 
balance). Cathedral Peak and Echo Peaks/Ridge can be seen rising high to 
<P8>the east</a> beyond more forest. Medlicott rises not quite so high to 
<P10>the north</a>. Tenaya Lake and Polly Dome share the view to 
<P9>the west</a>. I descended down slabs on <P11>the northwest side</a>, a 
<P12>little stiffer</a> than the SW slabs, but still class 3. I was back to 
<P13>the highway</a> and the van a little over an hour after starting out.
Nice little scramble, this one. 
<h4>Peak 9,205ft</h4>
This unnamed dome lies north of Medlicott and west of Fairview Dome, adjacent
to the highway on the south side. It has an imposing 500-foot wall on the west
and north sides, but has class 3 options elsewhere. I <P22>parked</a> off the 
highway west of the summit and headed <P14>into the woods</a> towards the SW 
Ridge. Easier options are found by moving well to the right, but I found the 
scrambling quite enjoyable <P15>nearer the edge</a> of <P16>the ridge</a>, 
mostly class 3 slabs but some stiffer slabs and even a nice
lieback that I used at one 20-foot section. I ended up backing down this 
lieback when I couldn't make further progress upward, eventually finding a 
groove further right that worked better. The summit offers simultaneous views
of Half Dome/Tenya Lake to <P18>the southwest</a> and the spread of Tuolumne 
Meadows to <P17>the northeast</a>. Falls Ridge, Cold Mtn, and the higher summits
of Northern Yosemite can be seen to <P19>the northwest</a> and north. Polly 
Dome and Mt. Hoffmann
are prominent to the west, but mostly washed out by the lowering sun on this
late afternoon visit. I descended the easier class 2-3 on the northwest side,
traversing around <P20>the North Face</a> before returning to the start at the 
highway.
<h4>Lembert Dome/Dog Dome</h4>
It was 7:30p by the time I pulled into the Lembert Dome parking lot. A pair of
dirtbagging climbers were cooking a meal at one the picnic benches while 
swatting mosquitoes made active by the cool evening air. I scrambled up the 
steep slabs just right of the popular climbing routes on the west and 
<P24>southwest faces</a>. 
I had been up this feature 13yrs earlier with my then six year-old son.
That time we had gone up the south side slabs, not quite as steep as 
<P25>the SW side</a>, but a challenge nonetheless given his age. I found my way
to <P27>the top</a> in about 20min, about half an hour before sunset, with a 
<P26>fine view</a> for my effort. There were <P28>various parties</a>
hanging out near the summit awaiting the setting sun. I spoke briefly to a few
of them as I made my way down the NW side. I dropped to the high, forest saddle
with Dog Dome before climbing the far easier dome to <P30>its highpoint</a>, a 
s hort
class 1-2 effort. For the return, I wasn't sure exactly where to find the 
Lembert Dome Trail and
ended up descending to the west from the saddle between the two domes, 
eventually winding my way down around the base of Lembert Dome to return to the
parking lot. There was a climbers' <P32>use trail</a> in places, making the 
cross-country fairly easy, getting me <P33>back</a> 
to the parking lot before 8:30p.

I headed east over Tioga Pass and found a fairly flat spot on the north side of
the highway within sight of the Yosemite entrance station. I ate dinner, watched
some video and slept quite comfortably here, with temperatures dropping to 48F
by morning. I had more hiking to do in Yosemite the next morning but didn't want
to risk getting rousted by the zealous rangers inside the park. Despite the 
noise and lights from passing vehicles, I slept pretty well...

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