On a random day about six weeks after Mom died, I left Modesto at 6 in the morning, reached Tioga Pass at a little before 10, and was on top of Mt. Dana before 1 pm. The reason I chose Dana was because Mono Lake was one of Mom's favorite places. She loved to watch the light change, and feel the clouds and shadows creep across the lake. The view of Mono Lake from Dana is sublime. The wind was howling that day, the cloud ceiling to the west was about 12K feet and a few snow flakes fell. I was physically cooked on top. I can't explain the peace, contentment, total relaxation and state of bliss I felt as I let myself finally emotionally unwind on top and on the walk down.
Rockman - Aug 29, 2006 4:52 am Date Climbed: Aug 27, 2006
Nice
Sweet view.
mgp5000 - Aug 28, 2006 3:07 am Date Climbed: Aug 27, 2006
Standard Route - From Tioga Pass
Tough little hike, but the views make it all worth it.
kngalaric - Aug 9, 2006 1:53 am Date Climbed: Jul 19, 2006
One of the best summit 360's in the world
3 out of five times I've been successful. Twice turned back due to weather, and almost got turned around this time. Fun, fun, fun.
Soft snow all the way up which may be a little unusual this late in July. With the big heat wave it was nearly 80 degrees at Tioga Pass. Still, it was great to get away for a few hours from 112 degrees in the East Bay!
Kerstin - Jun 28, 2006 2:07 am Date Climbed: Jul 14, 1986
08/2005: went up from Tioga Pass, descended via headwaters of Dana Fork. I loved the Polemonium.
rangermatt - May 3, 2006 10:57 pm Date Climbed: Aug 4, 2005
Beautiful morning
Took a couple hours from the Tioga entrance station - beautiful wildflowers! Wasn't as difficult as I imagined it to be; it's just an "advanced" hike. It's got to have one of the top "payoff to effort" ratios in Yosemite.
nayrb - Apr 11, 2006 2:16 am Date Climbed: Jul 23, 2003
Great view of Mono Lake ...
Climbed to the summit w/ my wife - pretty much a scramble in the summer. Spent only a few minutes at the summit ... had a storm roll in on us on the way down. GREAT views of Mono Lake to the East. Saw tons of marmots! Great summit - a must to climb!
Matt Worster - Mar 30, 2006 3:57 pm Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2003
Dana and Gibbs
My first (gasp) off trail experience. I was totally overprepared, if there is such a thing, but I used it to practice compass and map skills and match them up with what I could see. Overall, a fun solo trip.
Route Climbed: Dana Couloir Date Climbed: 21 November 2005
With my friend Jonathan...we reached the summit at around 1:45 PM after starting from the car (on the road at the pullout by the lake) around 5:15 AM. I took it slow as I live at sea level in San Diego. Niether of us had any problems though. We climbed with two ice tools on a mix of solid ice and hard snow. We didn't use a rope but each climbed with a screw to place in case we got tired. We didn't need them as the climb was pretty easy. Warmer than we expected on top and no wind..all I ever wore was a fleece...and we lounged around the summit for about 20 minutes before slogging down the slope to the car, which we reached around 3:30 PM to finish out the long day.
tb00957 - Sep 12, 2006 11:38 pm Date Climbed: Jul 8, 2006
3rd pillarvery cool route. My partner led everything. My first tuolumne climb!
boisedoc - Sep 11, 2006 5:24 am Date Climbed: Jul 15, 1995
NiceFun walkup from Tioga Pass. I imagine this is the easiest 13000 foot peak in California.
eggheadsherpa - Sep 5, 2006 4:28 am Date Climbed: Sep 4, 2006
Route Climbed: NW SlopesBeautiful views from the summit
jonhersh - Sep 1, 2006 4:53 am Date Climbed: Aug 9, 2005
NW slopeGreat dayhike with incredible views of Mono Lake and the Yosemite high country.
Gene - Aug 31, 2006 9:22 pm
EmotionalOn a random day about six weeks after Mom died, I left Modesto at 6 in the morning, reached Tioga Pass at a little before 10, and was on top of Mt. Dana before 1 pm. The reason I chose Dana was because Mono Lake was one of Mom's favorite places. She loved to watch the light change, and feel the clouds and shadows creep across the lake. The view of Mono Lake from Dana is sublime. The wind was howling that day, the cloud ceiling to the west was about 12K feet and a few snow flakes fell. I was physically cooked on top. I can't explain the peace, contentment, total relaxation and state of bliss I felt as I let myself finally emotionally unwind on top and on the walk down.
Rockman - Aug 29, 2006 4:52 am Date Climbed: Aug 27, 2006
NiceSweet view.
mgp5000 - Aug 28, 2006 3:07 am Date Climbed: Aug 27, 2006
Standard Route - From Tioga PassTough little hike, but the views make it all worth it.
kngalaric - Aug 9, 2006 1:53 am Date Climbed: Jul 19, 2006
One of the best summit 360's in the world3 out of five times I've been successful. Twice turned back due to weather, and almost got turned around this time. Fun, fun, fun.
dabender - Jul 26, 2006 6:03 pm Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2006
Dana CouloirSoft snow all the way up which may be a little unusual this late in July. With the big heat wave it was nearly 80 degrees at Tioga Pass. Still, it was great to get away for a few hours from 112 degrees in the East Bay!
Kerstin - Jun 28, 2006 2:07 am Date Climbed: Jul 14, 1986
from Tioga PassI loved the view of Mono Lake from the summit!
lakenyon - May 14, 2006 11:04 pm
from Tioga Pass08/2005: went up from Tioga Pass, descended via headwaters of Dana Fork. I loved the Polemonium.
rangermatt - May 3, 2006 10:57 pm Date Climbed: Aug 4, 2005
Beautiful morningTook a couple hours from the Tioga entrance station - beautiful wildflowers! Wasn't as difficult as I imagined it to be; it's just an "advanced" hike. It's got to have one of the top "payoff to effort" ratios in Yosemite.
nayrb - Apr 11, 2006 2:16 am Date Climbed: Jul 23, 2003
Great view of Mono Lake ...Climbed to the summit w/ my wife - pretty much a scramble in the summer. Spent only a few minutes at the summit ... had a storm roll in on us on the way down. GREAT views of Mono Lake to the East. Saw tons of marmots! Great summit - a must to climb!
Matt Worster - Mar 30, 2006 3:57 pm Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2003
Dana and GibbsMy first (gasp) off trail experience. I was totally overprepared, if there is such a thing, but I used it to practice compass and map skills and match them up with what I could see. Overall, a fun solo trip.
fieldbio - Mar 24, 2006 11:07 pm
Date: July 2004Nice and easy. But I got caught in a random thunderstorm at the top !
SummitJunkie - Mar 7, 2006 2:10 am Date Climbed: Oct 15, 2005
Route Climbed: Standard RouteAwsome climb to my first 13k peak. Views are unbeliveable!!
mountainmatt - Jan 9, 2006 3:43 pm
Route Climbed: NW & West Slope Date Climbed: Fall 04A great walk up for the "roadies."
SawtoothSean - Jan 4, 2006 8:47 pm
Route Climbed: NW Slopes Date Climbed: August 14, 1998Easy access from the Meadows- amazing scramble with superb views and lots of elevation
mattnoland - Dec 3, 2005 11:58 am
Route Climbed: Dana Couloir Date Climbed: 21 November 2005With my friend Jonathan...we reached the summit at around 1:45 PM after starting from the car (on the road at the pullout by the lake) around 5:15 AM. I took it slow as I live at sea level in San Diego. Niether of us had any problems though. We climbed with two ice tools on a mix of solid ice and hard snow. We didn't use a rope but each climbed with a screw to place in case we got tired. We didn't need them as the climb was pretty easy. Warmer than we expected on top and no wind..all I ever wore was a fleece...and we lounged around the summit for about 20 minutes before slogging down the slope to the car, which we reached around 3:30 PM to finish out the long day.
dshoshone - Nov 10, 2005 6:45 pm
Route Climbed: 'Standard route Date Climbed: Sept 2002Climbed Dana three times