(19.5 miles--10 hours)
The ~North Dome~ trip is a strenuous one-day climb and should be taken
as follows rather than Trail Trip 4, thus avoiding the hot ascent of
the Mirror Lake zigzags. One should start early, reaching the top of
the falls before the heat becomes excessive.
The ~Yosemite Falls Trail~ was built in the early days and operated as
a toll trail. It leaves the road a short distance west of ~Yosemite
Lodge~. In the first mile we ascend by sharp zigzags thru a shady
grove of golden oak and laurel, emerging above into the open and
climbing granite ledges to ~Columbia Point~ (Alt. 5031). From here is
a splendid view, especially of the upper end of the valley. Turning
north, the trail ascends a few feet and then follows along a granite
ledge beautifully shaded by oaks, laurel, Douglas fir and pines. At
the left of the trail about a quarter of a mile above Columbia Point
is a spring. A short, rather steep descent takes us to ~Valley View~,
a lookout point a short distance to the right of the trail, from which
is an excellent view of the valley and the ~Upper Yosemite Fall~.
Skirting the base of an almost perpendicular cliff at the left, the
trail approaches the foot of the upper fall and bears to the left.
From this point it is possible to leave the trail and climb to the
foot of the upper fall, entering the cave under its base except during
high water. The climb is dangerous because of slippery rocks.
By switchbacks the trail ascends the steep slope west of the falls,
crossing a small stream after a quarter-mile climb. During the hour
ascent of the zigzags, ~Mount Clark~ (Alt. 11,506), ~Gray Peak~ (Alt.
11,581) and other High Sierra summits may be seen to the southeast.
Across the canyon are ~Glacier Point~ and ~Sentinel Dome~. At a trail
junction 100 feet beyond the canyon rim is a government telephone
(Central 1 ring). Here the ~Eagle Peak~ and ~Yosemite Creek Trails~
continue straight ahead (Trail Trips 9, 10 and 11). Our trail turns to
the right and crosses a small stream. Just beyond, the main trail
passes over a low rise. A branch to the left follows south along the
open ridge for a short distance to the top of the falls. From the
railed lookout point, peering into the chasm below we see what Muir
describes as one of the most impressive phenomena of the valley.
Retracing our route to the main trail and turning left, we cross
~Yosemite Creek~ and climb 300 feet on the further side, thence
turning southward. A short trail to the rim takes us to ~Yosemite
Point~ (Alt. 6935), from which is a vast view of the valley and the
High Sierra. The granite spire at the right and just below is "Le
Hammo," the Lost Arrow of one of the most beautiful Yosemite Indian
legends.
Returning to the main trail we climb parallel to the eastern rim of
the cliff. To the right are ~Castle Cliffs~ and the flat summit of
~North Dome~ beyond. After a climb of 400 feet the trail crosses a
ridge and traverses a dense forest of fir and pine, descending 400
feet and crossing ~Indian Creek~. Directly south is ~Indian Canyon~,
called by the Yosemite Tribe "Le Hamite," because of the arrowwood
which grew there. Their main trail into Yosemite followed along the
precipitous east side of the canyon.
The ~Little Winkle Branch of Indian Creek~ is crossed a half mile
beyond the main stream, and here the ~Snow Flat Trail~ continues
upstream. Turning to the right, our trail passes thru a fir forest
about one mile to ~Indian Ridge~, which it follows south over
disintegrating granite and thru stunted forest to the rounded summit
of ~North Dome~ (Alt. 7531). The view is most comprehensive and the
sheer vertical wall of ~Half Dome~ gives an impression of massiveness
nowhere else obtained. To the north of the trail near the summit is
~Slipper Rock~.
In returning to Yosemite we take all main trails to the right.
Retracing our path up ~Indian Ridge~ it is possible to follow the
trail back to the ~East~ or ~Little Winkle Fork of Indian Creek~, and
turn right on the ~Snow Flat Trail~, but the better and the shorter
way is to follow the plain blazes which turn to the right about a half
mile from the North Dome summit and just west of the crest of ~Indian
Ridge~. Running thru a beautiful forest this trail joins the main
~Snow Flat Trail~ at the ~Little Winkle Branch of Indian Creek~ just
west of ~Indian Rock~.
It is also possible to leave the trail and follow up Indian Ridge from
North Dome, gradually bearing to the right of ~Indian Rock~ and
intersecting the main ~Mirror Lake Trail~ near the top of the zigzags.
Our trail follows up the ~East~ or ~Little Winkle Branch of Indian
Creek~, at the source of which the ~Porcupine Flat Trail~ branches to
the left. The ~Mirror Lake Trail~ swings north of ~Indian Rock~, and
descends east to a branch of ~Snow Creek~, passing ~Snow Creek Falls~.
Further down Snow Creek is the junction with the ~Lake Tenaya Trail~
(Trail Trips 5 and 6). Turning right we further descend Snow Creek and
pass over the rim of the canyon between ~Basket Dome~ (Alt. 7602) at
the right and ~Mt. Watkins~ (Alt. 8235) at the left. In the next one
and a half miles a descent of 2500 feet is made by 108 switchbacks to
the floor of ~Tenaya Canyon~. Following down the canyon one mile, the
trail joins the road at ~Mirror Lake~. Yosemite is three miles distant
by road.