Daff Dome

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Daff Dome
Tuolumne Meadows - Daff Dome from Fairview Dome - 01 crop.jpg
Daff Dome viewed from Fairview Dome
Highest point
Elevation 9,158 ft (2,791 m) [1]  NAVD 88
Prominence 514 ft (157 m) [1]
Coordinates 37°52′51″N119°24′46″W / 37.880714°N 119.412889°W / 37.880714; -119.412889 Coordinates: 37°52′51″N119°24′46″W / 37.880714°N 119.412889°W / 37.880714; -119.412889 [1]
Geography
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Daff Dome
Location in California
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Daff Dome
Daff Dome (the United States)
Location Yosemite National Park
Tuolumne County, California, U.S.
Parent range Sierra Nevada
Topo map USGS Tenaya Lake
Climbing
First ascent West Crack by Frank Sacherer in June 1963 [2]
Easiest route East side, class 3-4 scramble [3]

Daff Dome or DAFF Dome is a prominent 800 feet (243.8 m) granite dome in Yosemite National Park, 3 miles (4.8 km) west of Tuolumne Meadows and 1,700 feet (0.5 km) from the Tioga Road. It is southeast of Doda Dome, and is near both West Cottage Dome and East Cottage Dome; it is also near Lamb Dome. Since the dome was never officially named, the DAFF Dome name was adopted in 1960's as an acronym of "Dome Across From Fairview" Dome. [2] [4]

Granite dome Rounded hills of bare granite formed by exfoliation

Granite domes are domical hills composed of granite with bare rock exposed over most of the surface. Generally, domical features such as these are known as bornhardts. Bornhardts can form in any type of plutonic rock but are typically composed of granite and granitic gneiss. As granitic plutons cool kilometers below the earth’s surface, minerals in the rock crystallize under uniform confining pressure. Erosion brings the rock closer to earth’s surface and the pressure from above the rock decreases; as a result the rock fractures. These fractures are known as exfoliation joints, or sheet fractures, and form in onionlike patterns that are parallel to the land surface. These sheets of rock peel off the exposed surface and in certain conditions develop domical structures. Additional theories on the origin of granite domes involve scarp-retreat and tectonic uplift.

Yosemite National Park National park in California, United States

Yosemite National Park is an American national park located in the western Sierra Nevada of Central California, bounded on the southeast by Sierra National Forest and on the northwest by Stanislaus National Forest. The park is managed by the National Park Service and covers an area of 747,956 acres and sits in four counties: centered in Tuolumne and Mariposa, extending north and east to Mono and south to Madera County. Designated a World Heritage site in 1984, Yosemite is internationally recognized for its granite cliffs, waterfalls, clear streams, giant sequoia groves, lakes, mountains, meadows, glaciers, and biological diversity. Almost 95% of the park is designated wilderness.

Tuolumne Meadows sub-alpine meadowy section of the Tuolumne River

Tuolumne Meadows ( "twaluhmee") is a gentle, dome-studded, sub-alpine meadow area along the Tuolumne River in the eastern section of Yosemite National Park in the United States. Its approximate location is 37°52.5′N119°21′W. Its approximate elevation is 8,619 feet (2,627 m). The term Tuolumne Meadows is also often used to describe a large portion of the Yosemite high country around the meadows, especially in context of rock climbing.

Climbing

The dome is popular with rock climbers and has several multi-pitch slab and crack climbs. Two of the earliest and best known are West Crack and Crescent Arch. West Crack, first climbed by Frank Sacherer in June 1963 is a 5 pitch YDS 5.9 which for 400 feet follows a continuous crack. [2] [5] Crescent Arch was first climbed with occasional aid by Layton Kor and Fred Beckey in June 1965, and first free climbed by Bob Kamps and TM Herbert soon after. The climb is a 6 pitch YDS 5.9+ (modern 5.10a) and ascends corner and crack system in a large open book. [2] [6]

Multi-pitch climbing is the ascent of climbing routes with one or more stops at a belay station. Each section of a climb between stops at belay stations is called a pitch. The leader ascends the pitch, placing gear and stopping to anchor themselves to the belay station.

Slab climbing

Slab climbing is a type of rock climbing where the rock face is at an angle less steep than vertical. It is characterized by balance- and friction-dependent moves on very small holds. It is often not leadable, or climbable from the ground up, unless it has pre-drilled bolts to protect the climb, making most slab climbs either top rope climbing or sport climbing. Special techniques such as smearing are necessary to climb slab. It is a type of face climbing and is distinctly different from crack climbing. Slab climbing is a relatively new area of climbing, having become more popular in the last 30 years and some of the highest graded routes are currently being realized.

Crack climbing type of rock climbing

Crack climbing is a type of rock climbing in which the climber follows a crack in the rock and uses specialized climbing techniques. The sizes of cracks vary from those that are just barely wide enough for the fingers to fit inside, to those that are so wide that the entire body can fit inside with all limbs outstretched. Many traditional climbing routes follow crack systems, as they provide natural opportunities for placing protective equipment.

Glacial polish on Daff Dome Tuolumne Meadows - Daff Dome descent - 3.JPG
Glacial polish on Daff Dome
Climbing on the Guide Cracks Tuolumne Meadows - Daff Dome - Guide Cracks - 2.JPG
Climbing on the Guide Cracks

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Daff Dome, California". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2016-01-12.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Beckey, Fred; Blanchard, Barry (2013). Fred Beckey's 100 Favorite North American Climbs. Patagonia. ISBN   9781938340093 . Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  3. Roper, Steve (1976). The climber's guide to the High Sierra. San Francisco: Sierra Club Books. p. 80. ISBN   0871561476. LCCN   75045108 . Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  4. Sierra Club (1963). "Daff Dome East Face Direct". Sierra Club Bulletin. 48-49: 111. ISSN   0037-4725. LCCN   sn82021743 . Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  5. "West Crack". Mountain Project. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  6. "Crescent Arch". Mountain Project. Retrieved 12 January 2016.