Lembert Dome Loop ~ Sep 23
Lembert Dome Loop ~ 3.8 miles, 9430’ elevation, 1090’ Ascent
After shuffling sites for the second morning in a row, we had just enough time to squeeze in a hike that afternoon with a choice of 3 trailheads just across the road. Lembert Dome towers over Tuolumne Meadow and looked like the perfect opportunity to gain some elevation and soak in our surroundings.
When we first arrived, climbers were standing at its cliff edge, but the map showed a trail spur on the backside of the dome. We hoped that meant “no ropes required” to get an amazing view. It was only our second day in Tuolumne, but somehow, the smoke from the Dome fire at the south end of the park (still less than 40% contained) had remained almost non-existent. Tuolumne was turning out to be the perfect entry point for us to enjoy the Sierras.
Clock-wise Loop
The trail started in a grove of trees before crossing a splay of immense granite slabs that looked deceptively like a snow-laden landscape. We spotted the dirt track on the other side and headed up the trail, the distant voices of climbers filtered through the trees. Scanning the granite face as we walked, a thin, colored speck came into view inching its way along a crack up to a tree-lined shelf, how they would ascend from there - a mystery.
Dog Lake
The 0.1-mile junction to Dog Lake was too tempting to pass up and did not disappoint. Just one other person passed us by, even though the main loop trail was fairly busy. Standing at the water’s edge, each of us found a few moments of solitude to watch fish jump and dragonflies dance.
“Wild” life
Soon after rejoining the loop trail, we met a hiker that had seen a bear foraging in a small ravine. Not only were we lucky enough to find him resting in the same spot, but a few more steps down the trail, Nivaun mentioned how the Douglas squirrels here had been too quick for him to get a photo. Seconds later, this little Sheena appeared and decided to treat Nivaun to a full-on photo shoot - posing like she knew just how to work the camera…maybe a bit too well.
The Spur
Once we arrived at the Spur trail, it was still a fair distance walk through the trees before the granite slab revealed its full naked girth, enticing us to clamber up its folds to the first vantage point, only to tempt us further up the massive mound.
With no trail markings of any kind, it was a “choose your own ascension”. Opposite the cliff edge on the north side, the south side seemed to slide off at an undeterminable grade, well beyond Nivaun’s comfort level. Instead, we chose the all-fours approach climbing over and around boulder-sized rocks to find the summit.
From the summit, we could see yet another plateau extending even further out towards the meadow to the edge where the climbers had stood. We clamored down to walk across the plateau but still didnt reach the edge before the sun began to slip below the horizon. By the time we made it down to finish the loop trail, dusk was quickly closing in. It was only our second day and the beauty of this place simply feels endless.