I didn't go up to the domes, just down to the river. A gate is closed until June 15 so I had to walk a mile of road then down to the river (total of about 2.5 miles and -2400' going in). Starting at 11:15 it was 2 hours from car to river then 2.5 hours back. Route finding is, as always, easier going up when you can see cliffs before you get to them. Just carried map, compass, water bottle and two cameras. There are several ways to cross the river and more than one way to get down to the river. There is poison oak near the river with bear tracks, likely rattle snakes, lizards and gnats everywhere.
I think with the safety of companions I would go a shorter, steeper route. If the gate is open, it would be perhaps 1.6 miles and -2000' down to the river then 1.1 miles +1800' up to the base of the upper condor rock. Now would be the time to go as I think there is probably water near the domes but probably won't be in summer or fall. Otherwise you could camp at the river and commute but the commute might be 2.5 hours going and 1.5 back with gear. This is probably the fastest way to summit BD (3.2 miles. +2800' -2100' one way) and could make a good day trip.
Summer or fall it might make more sense to take a 4 day trip from the Cassidy trailhead going to and camping at Cassidy Meadow/Rattlesnake Lake where there is water.
Look at the above photo of the east faces, nearly a mile of rock face and the only 5th class route in view is Beckey's on the far right skyline. The down side is that there doesn't seem to be much feature to the rock and bolting slabs makes for slow fa's and lots of hardware to carry.
