Trip Date: November 4, 2020
2020 CALIFORNIA & UTAH ADVENTURE VACATION
Lembert Dome Day Hike & Scramble
Dog Lake Saddle
Lembert Dome (9440+ ft)
Trip Report Summary
Region: California
Sub-Region: Sierra Nevada Range
Sub-Sub-Region: Tuolumne Mountains
Area: Yosemite National Park
Starting & Ending Point: Lembert Dome / Dog Lake Trailhead on Tuolumne Meadows Lodge Road (Elev. 8700 feet)
Way Points: Tioga Road crossing & Dog Lake Saddle & Lembert Dome summit (trail hike & off-trail hike & rock scramble)
Summit: Lembert Dome (rock scramble via Northeast Ridge)
Approximate Stats: 2 miles traveled; 800 feet gained & lost; 0.6 hours up; 0.5 hours down.
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Full Trip Report
During our last morning in Yosemite National Park, Eileen, Brooke, and I took a quick jaunt up Lembert Dome. This white granite knob rises 800 feet above the green expanse of Tuolumne Meadows and is enticingly visible from Tioga Road. Lembert Dome represents a textbook example of a roche moutonnee, or “sheep rock.” This term refers to a geologic outcrop having a relatively smooth ridge on the up-valley side due to glacial abrasion and having a relatively steep face on the down-valley side due to glacial plucking.
The ascent involves a ½-mile trail hike to Dog Lake Saddle, followed by a ½-mile stroll up the delightfully smooth northeast ridge, or “sheepback,” which begins at a low gradient and becomes gradually steeper. The last bit is a Class 3 scramble on super-grippy granite laden with jumbo feldspar crystals.
From the summit, we could see north to the Tioga Crest and Mt. Conness, yesterday’s objective. Unfortunately, Yosemite Valley and everything to the south was enveloped by wildfire smoke.
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Route Map
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Photo Gallery
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