Tuolumne Tour part 2

Unicorn Peak as seen from Pothole Dome

A little late in getting this second part of the Tuolumne river tour posted.  Life gets busy and blogging takes a back seat.

This is a fairly easy hike that skirts Pothole Dome. This day we only hiked a third of the way up but still got some fairly impressive views.

Sometimes I debate promoting some of these beautiful easy hikes because they're so much better when they are less crowded. This particular hike is surprisingly not as crowded as some and I hope it stays that way.

A view of Tuolumne Meadows from Pothole Dome.

One nice thing about this hike is that it gives you some great options. The dome is one of the easiest to climb in the park with a slow gradual grade if you start your ascent from the eastern side. You'll see a path as you walk around the perimeter that cuts through a small grove of trees at the base of the dome.

The white of the granite dome can be quite glaringly bright so sun glasses are a good idea.

There are places to take a dip in the river but be extremely careful as the granite can be quite slick and the the water is snow melt and quite cold.  The granite this water rushes over is nothing like falling down on sand.

This is one of those hikes where it is god to take you time and enjoy the views that refresh the
soul.

There's much to see here. Just turning around and looking at the plant life can be rewarding.  The right time of year one can see Mountain Spirea blooming at the base of trees with a coloring similar to the granite they are growing out of.

The place is truly magical and one can not help but be amazed and in awe of nature's wonderful diversity and splendor.