Dana and Hoffmann

16 Aug 1998 - by Mark Elliot

We did Dana and Hoffmann as day hikes the weekend of August 15 and 16. Dana was quite the climb after a long drive and a couple of hours sleep. It was such a rock pile, a brutal workout with a great payoff. We carried our winter shell pants and jackets which came in handy when we encountered some hail about half way up. There is a really neat telescoping effect right as you approach the top, the hill gets smaller and the view gets bigger. For a first time peak it was really exciting approaching and then reaching the top. As for the trip down...we got pretty sick of the rocks. Hoffmann on the other hand was a total pleasure from top to bottom. It was a beautiful the whole way with a fun climb up some rocks to reach the top. And the view, wow! It was a great spot for lunch.

David Lou adds:

Took a group of eight beginners up there this weekend. Everything as advertised. Easily handled hike by beginners, great view from top. [If I can find my way with these directions, anyone can. :-)]

Mark Elliot wrote:

Hoffmann is much easier than Dana but totaly worth the trip! The round trip took me maybe 5 hours, with a long lunch and a lot of stopping to take in the views, especially between May Lake and the summit.

To get to Hoffmann you use the May Lake trailhead. From Tenaya Lake you drive west on 120 to the Old Tioga Road (I came in the east entrance over Tioga pass), then drive northeast up Old Tioga road, almost two miles, to the trailhead, just before the road is blocked off. There are a couple of trails departing here but they are marked. Follow the one for May Lake. The trail begins by a small pond on Snow Flat. To the northwest is the peak which is a six mile round trip.

When you get to May Lake, follow the trail west, along the shore of the lake. This immediately passes the camping area, then traverses across rocks cropping out above the lake's southwest shore. Follow the trail south, you may lose it, but the route south, up a gully to a small meadow is not hard to find. >From the meadow's south end, near a saddle, the trail goes about 100 yards southwest and then you climb northwest (this section seems long and steep) up to the summit plateau. You can spot the summit because of the antenna at the top. We found the short trip up the rocks to the top to be pretty straight- forward, even never having climbed up rocks before. Lunch at the top sitting on the rock steps is a must!


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