Yosemite 2012 - Hike to North Dome

Left to right: Basket Dome, Mt. Watkins, Clouds Rest, Half Dome.

Breakfast!

09/27/12 Thursday

Yosemite is experiencing a heat wave, although you wouldn’t know it getting up in the morning at 8,100’.

So far, so good.

For our first hike, we’re going from Tioga Road to the top of North Dome to check out the view from the north rim.

Some serious blow-down.

The first half of the trail is fairly flat through the forest.

Indian Rock.

There is a small natural arch called Indian Rock, located shortly before you reach the north rim of Yosemite Valley. It’s located about a quarter-mile off the main trail.

Winding through the granite.

North Dome is actually about 500’ below the north rim, so the trail descends for a half-mile from an upper dome.

Clouds Rest and Tenaya Canyon in the background.

North Dome has a long, gradual rise up bare granite.

Buena vista.

The top of North Dome offers magnificent views of Half Dome and Yosemite Valley.

Trudging back up.

The hike was more tiring than we expected. It was a hot day and the trail has quite a bit of up-and-down. Plus, the first hike of a trip always serves as a warm-up.

The total hike was about 12 miles, counting the hike back-and-forth from our campground to the trailhead. Total vert: well over 1,000’.