Re: Davey Llama Dome 7307

For Dave:



Had opportunity to do this... so do it. More photos and route here:
https://picasaweb.google.com/yosemite.chick.on/DLDome7307

Just some great stuff to be found.. as usual.

Not showing everything. Go and explore... but abuse at your own risk...

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Nice. I've always wondered about this dome, seeing it from the road.

Some background and other info is here if really interested:
http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?3,28730

I won't talk it up much more... but the route was a gem...

Need to go back and check out more of Smoky Jack though... that was completely covered in snow at this time.

I can think of no ridge that I didn't thoroughly enjoy... (Turner, Buena, Horse, Crescent, El Cap) come to mind...

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I am going to make it there this summer. Did you start from Smokey Jacks?

There's a nice hidden little spot in the little valley between this dome and the road.

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Dave
I am going to make it there this summer. Did you start from Smokey Jacks?

There's a nice hidden little spot in the little valley between this dome and the road.

Yes. Started at Smoky. Nice parking spot there. Take a looky at the map.

Yes, I know... shhhhhh!!! (no pictures included to keep it hidden)

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chick-on
Yes. Started at Smoky. Nice parking spot there. Take a looky at the map.

I just looked and that's the route I was planning on. Was it as easy as it looks?

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Yes, I know... shhhhhh!!! (no pictures included to keep it hidden)

It's something that Smokey Jack could have used.

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Dave

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chick-on
Yes. Started at Smoky. Nice parking spot there. Take a looky at the map.

I just looked and that's the route I was planning on. Was it as easy as it looks?

If you only want to get up to the dome you can take the creek route and avoid any shrub really.
But if you park at Smoky then I'd really recommend the route I did. The eastern area I showed,
to me, was pretty cool. Nice flat spots and little rock outcroppings here and there.
From Smoky go straight up working around any shrub really... down to 7307 is a bit of shrub
but only slightly, and most can be avoided by going southwestly (more than what I did).
Very little Manz so even any shrub busting is trivial.
From the top you can easily drop down a good 400 ft. and peer down to the South Fork and
over to the bridge.
The creek route down is trivial. It's open forest mostly... the last section to Smoky has
some deadfall... but you can skip the last section by climbing up the steps of the bridge...
(you'll know what I mean when you do it)
Or... you can just go across the creek and hike up to the road at any time.
(it was flowing nicely at this time so I didn't... )

Let us know how it goes... wanna go back myself and spend even more time there...

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That sounds like a great little hike. The views must be awesome and the crowds nonexistent.

It is a great little hike. The views are more Great Smoky Mountains type though.
On the huge upside I'm certain you can see Stockton from up there!

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I've been around that area, but not on top of the Davely Llama Dome itself. Often the sunsets are spectacular from that vicinity of the park (thanks in no small part to the Central Valley's smog).

Drat. You beat me to it. I have that area planned for later this month, assuming that White Wolf opens in time for my reservation to work....

Great photos and map. Thanks. I love that sort of easy off-trail stuff.

I'll have to do some poking around in there. Given that it's across the street from an old campground, we would have heard if there was anything astounding located there. But I'll look for some different views to the north, and maybe check out a descent to the stream crossings to the west. Maybe locate another balanced rock...

Well... you pummelled me on the Inspiration Ridge one!

You sure you would have heard anything? (actually both Dave and I have both said something... )
(Go and look ... and you will see)

I didn't see any balancing rocks... was looking... but there is plenty more to explore in that area...
so maybe there is... hopefully the Bald Fire will die out sooner rather than later and you
can go check out the spectacular one "near" Bald Mtn.

You can quite "easily" get down to the SF by looping around on the north... At least it looked pretty simple.

Have fun

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/28/2011 03:45PM by chick-on.