Mount Hoffmann

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Bob, Hikin' Bill and I headed out for a repeat adventure.  We first hiked to Mt Hoffmann in Yosemite back in 2010.  This time I had a goal -- complete the summit.  Last time I looked at the sheer fall near the top and decided I would rather live than summit; this time I found an alternate route to the top.  More on that later.

Mt Hoffmann

Our original plan for the day was to head to Mt Gibbs, but the smoke forecast did not look favorable, so it was plan B -- Mt Hoffmann, but with a twist.  The twist was a bonus four miles that Bob threw in to make it a "real hike".

We headed off to Yosemite along 395 and found the smoke at Lee Vining.  Fortunately, when we reached Tuolumne, it was clear, or as clear as it is going to get this year.  Our bonus four miles occurred between Highway 120 and the May Lake parking lot.  This was an easy stroll along a little used horse trail with plenty of trees and chickadees. 

May Lake and the lovely Mt Hoffmann ridge

From May Lake we took the use trail and wandered a bit past the direct route to Hoffmann, but eventually we were on a trail that I recognized and were huffing and puffing up to the rock outcrop that is Hoffmann.  It is not a classic peak, but since it has a name it gets peak-baggers who think they will get to sign a register.  They are disappointed on that account.  The last one hundred feet or so to the top is a nearly vertical rock outcrop.  Knowing that the right edge, which looks easiest, has an exposed drop, I choose to work the center of the formation.  I was rewarded with a route that took me up granite ledges to the top and had no sheer drop-offs. 

Getting closer

The drop off is on the right

We had nice views from the top including Half Dome, Clouds Rest, Cathedral and Unicorn Peaks, and more distant peaks including Dana and Gibbs.  And yes, the smoke forecast was accurate and we would not have been happy on Gibbs.  We will save that for a day when we will be able to see Mono Lake as our reward.

Clouds Rest and Half Dome

Bill and Bob heading up

Susan on the summit block

Bob summits a nearby mound

Bob does stupid shit and stands on a rock with thin air below

Hikin' Bill and Bob

A smoky Dana and Gibbs in the distance