Lyell Canyon, Lembert Dome, and Dog Lake

- August 7, 2003

- July 12, 2004

- August 26, 2007

- September 25, 2008

- September 11, 2009

Cathleen at the Twin Bridges, Lyell Fork, Tuolumne River, 2004

The Meadows, River (both the combined river and the Dana and Lyell Forks), Lembert Dome, and Dog Lake are in very close proximity to one another near the Tuolumne Meadows campground - a couple of miles separates them all.

I first visited this area of Yosemite National Park in August, 2003, as I was driving through on Tioga Road (California 120 for those of you following on the map) from the West side of the Sierras to the East side. I'd just had a horrible (well, horrible to me) time of it in the Valley followed by my first siting of Olmsted Point, which made everything so much better. Several miles east of Olmsted Point is Tenaya Lake, Cathedral Lakes, Tuolumne Meadows, the Visitor's Center, and then the Campground, in that order, as you drive along Tioga Road. The hike to Glen Aulin also starts in this area as well.

Lyell Fork of the Tuolumne River, 2009

In 2004, I camped for 5 straight nights at the Tuolumne Meadows campground. On my first full day in the Park, I explored the Lyell and Dana Forks of the Tuolumne River and then ended up hiking up Lembert Dome and over to Dog Log. The River is on the eastern side of the Tuolumne Meadows campground. Since I was on the extreme western side, I had already had a good warm up hike to reach the River by the time I got there. I decided to take this hike because it was supposed to be relatively level and I thought it would be a good warm up hike for the rest of my week at Yosemite. Little did I realize that I would expand my days' plans and include Lembert Dome and Dog Lake as well. But more on that later.

Pictures from the Lyell Fork of the Tuolumne River

The walk was pretty level - no real uphills or downhills. Very sunny, with a lot of glare off of the river. Eventually I reached the some actual Meadows, for which the area is named. I did not visit the meadows but took some time to rest and reflect. Which meant I had a seat on one of the many available granite rocks or slabs in the area, took off my shoes and socks, and put my feet in the water. Have you ever, ever put any part of your body in extremely cold water? I am not talking cold tap water, I am talking really cold water. Like someone had dumped a lot of ice in it. On the one hand, a very small hand, it felt really good to put my hot and sweaty feet in the water. On the other, it actually hurt. My bones and tendons and all the other parts in my feet and ankles felt this ache, the kind that makes you grit your teeth. I could only stand having my feet in the water for about 10-20 second intervals, it was that cold. After about 5 minutes, I'd had enough rest and reflection, and decided to make the hike up to Lembert Dome and Dog Lake. After all, it was only about 10am - there was a lot of day left.

I hiked over to Lembert Dome, which was about 2 miles away from where I soaked my feet in that cold, cold water. Most of the hike was uphill on a switch back trail. Yes, you can go to the top of Lembert Dome. I got up on top of the granite, found a spot where the wind wasn't going to blow me off (the wind was blowing rather well that day), and ate lunch. I did not go to the very top - after all, my fear of falling off of heights doesn't work well when we are high up above the ground. I climbed down from Lembert Dome and made my way over to Dog Lake. I haven't figured out or don't remember how this lake got its name. It was the biggest "lake" I visited on my entire trip to Yosemite on this particular trip and it still wasn't all that large. It was pretty, however, and the water wasn't nearly as cold as the river water I'd soaked my feet in earlier. After spending about 1/2 hour admiring the Lake, I headed back towards civilization. Or the campground, which was the closest thing to civilization in the area. Since I had hiked uphill to this point, the hike back was pretty much all downhill.

In 2007, I again camped out at the Campground but for only 2 nights this time. My hike in 2007 was to Gaylor Lakes but I did have occasion to pass by the Tuolumne River and one of the pictures above is from that trip.

In 2008, I was again crossing the Park from west to east with the intent of exiting at Tioga Pass and heading down to US395 and Lee Vining. I had just spent 4 nights camping in the Valley (not quite as bad an experience as in 2003) and I arrived in the Tuolumne area about 11am. After eating a quick lunch on the shores of Tenaya Lake, I decided to take a quick walk on the John Muir Trail from the Tuolumne Lodge to the Twin Bridges. The entire hike was about 2 miles tops. However, it did take me over some of the same ground as the hike in 2004. The water level in the Lyell and Dana Forks was down due to the lateness of the season. But it was a gorgeous day in late September - no snow yet and the temperature in the 70s - and I sat on one of the numerous rocks near the edge of the Lyell Fork and just enjoyed the view.

In 2009, I had planned to take a walk from the campground out to the twin bridges. After all, I'd done it by accident in 2004. Alas, I couldn't figure out the trails that would do that this time (there is no sign that says "Twin Bridges This Way". However, I did find the start to the Lyell Canyon Trail for a future hike to take and, surely, I will find the trail that leads over to the twin bridges from that trail (I know the John Muir Trail and the Lyell Canyon Trail meet).

Tuolumne River, 2007

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