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South Flank

California > Yosemite NP > Tuolumne Meadows > DAFF Area > DAFF Dome
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Description

The South Flank of Daff Dome is home to several fun, easy-to-moderate cracks including the 4 short, popular Guide Cracks 3 and the Alimony Cracks. Fingertips (5.10a) is a runout face climb on polished, gold granite that can be top-roped by leading Alimony Cracks.

Getting There

Park as for Daff Dome (across from Fairview Dome) along Hwy 120, approximately half way between Tenaya Lake and the Tuolumne Meadows General Store.

There is a trail leading up to the South Flank area that heads up a low-angle treed gully. Approach time is about 10 minutes.

Routes from Left to Right

5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b R
 18
● 14 Karat
Sport 2 pitches
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a R
 83
● Fingertips
Sport 2 pitches
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 141
● Alimony Cracks
Trad
5.8- 5b 16 VI- 14 VS 4c
 9
● Alimony Cracks, right
Trad
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 1
● Prespiration
Trad
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b R
 2
● Liberation
Trad
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 110
● Guide Cracks 1
Trad, TR
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 120
● Guide Cracks 2
Trad, TR
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 139
● Guide Cracks 3
Trad
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a
 108
● Guide Cracks 4
Trad, TR
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 109
● The Great Circle
Trad 2 pitches
5.11a/b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c PG13
 11
● It Is Finished
Sport
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b
 26
● Hogwash
Sport 2 pitches
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
● 14 Karat
 18
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b R Sport 2 pitches
● Fingertips
 83
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a R Sport 2 pitches
● Alimony Cracks
 141
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad
● Alimony Cracks, right
 9
5.8- 5b 16 VI- 14 VS 4c Trad
● Prespiration
 1
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Trad
● Liberation
 2
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b R Trad
● Guide Cracks 1
 110
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad, TR
● Guide Cracks 2
 120
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad, TR
● Guide Cracks 3
 139
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad
● Guide Cracks 4
 108
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a Trad, TR
● The Great Circle
 109
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad 2 pitches
● It Is Finished
 11
5.11a/b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c PG13 Sport
● Hogwash
 26
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b Sport 2 pitches

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

The South Flank of Daff Dome.
[Hide Photo] The South Flank of Daff Dome.
The popular "Guides Cracks" on a busy weekend.
[Hide Photo] The popular "Guides Cracks" on a busy weekend.
Glacier polish on the approach to South Flank.<br> Photo by Blitzo.
[Hide Photo] Glacier polish on the approach to South Flank. Photo by Blitzo.
Guide Cracks in October - left to right, 5.8, 5.8, 5.7, 5.5
[Hide Photo] Guide Cracks in October - left to right, 5.8, 5.8, 5.7, 5.5

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

matt matera
[Hide Comment] Approach: from Daff Dome pull out, go down the trail, cross over the stream and then go up hill a little. Then you go right (if you go left at the junction you will be going to daff dorm and western fronts). . Find a trail that hugs the road for about 100 yards (look for cairns). then the trail bears left and goes up a tree filled gully. Approach about 15-20 minutes. The guide book says cross slabs but I never had to do this. This is a well marked trail that is also the descent for Daff Dome. Jul 6, 2015