back to Yosemite National Park Page

back to the Geology Club Page

In September of 2001, members of the Geology Club of MJC climbed Mt. Hoffman in the geographic center of Yosemite National Park. The hike starts near May Lake, just off the Tuolumne Meadows Highway. The mountain is 10,850 feet tall, and is a strenuous, but not technically challenging hike. The view is spectacular, as Hoffman is west of the main Sierra crest, and yet almost as high.

The trail starts out gentle enough....

Beautiful May Lake appeared after the first mile, with the east summit of Mt. Hoffman far above. The trail began to climb in earnest.

The final summit pitch. If you look REALLY close, you can see a dozen or so people near the top.

WE MADE IT!

And what a view! First look is to the south, towards Half Dome and Yosemite Valley...

Then north and west towards the Central Valley...

East towards Tuolumne Meadows and the Sierra Crest...

And north towards the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne River.