Pics of Balloon Dome

[daniel banquo merrick]

I took some photos last weekend. Not pretty but trying to get as much detail as I could with my cheap camera gear.

Big image of the upper part of Balloon Dome:
http://danielmerrick.com/SOYO_photos/BD%20big.jpg

Same for Condor Rock
http://danielmerrick.com/SOYO_photos/Condor-west.jpg

[susan]

Welcome DMT - so great to find you here!

I've toyed with the notion of getting an up close, personal look at Balloon. Problem is always feeling more toyed with every consideration. Balloon Dome in a day, though, quite the inspiration! Now I fear I've been making excuses of needing more time than 2-3 days to check it out. Great to see your photos.

Wonder what age the Brother's Black were when out there. Sure liked most of the route Song to a Morning Star.

And the zip! I've taken a ride along a zip line before. Was that video from a visit in the spring or fall? You guys make it all look so accessible.





 

 

 

[daniel banquo merrick]

The video was from May 2012.

[daniel banquo merrick]

Junction Butte and Balloon Dome.

[susan]

First time I've seen this perspective. Looks far out there by forest service roads and/or a heck of a long hike! 

[daniel banquo merrick]

Long hike on Saturday. My daughter, who has little or no interest in climbing, and I hiked down to the confluence of the north and middle forks of the San Joaquin River. Goal was to scope out some crags along the river. The crags are there but steep/overhanging and access is anything but easy. There is a trail on the USGS maps but there isn't much left of it and we kept losing it. 9 hours of up and down hiking.

[NateD]

Sounds "kinda" fun, Dan. I see on the maps the steepness you mention. Way to get out there.

[susan]

Sounds tough. But pretty darn great to be able to do that with fam.

[John]

Soooo, Dan it was a bust or just too insane an approach for what it is? You did say there was steep rock which is pretty rare and otherwise desireable. Some people will hike hours for a nice boulder if it is promising.

[daniel banquo merrick]

I went to try and see the crags just downriver from the confluence of the north and middle forks. Turns out I couldn't get a very good view of them without crossing one river or the other which didn't seem practical for the amount of time we had. Probably not too hard to do in the fall though. One could also hike up from Miller crossing. Took us 4.75 hours to get there and about 4 to get out.



The parts with white streaks are overhanging.









View of the confluence, north fork on right.



From the log which doesn't go all the way across.



Looking up river

[John]

Pretty darned hardcore recon, Dan! There is a really interesting view from Disappearing Dome of what I believe is that area that is all rock but you can't really see the full extent. From your photos it looks like you were more upstream of where I am talking about, they look less rocky.

[susan]

Wow, you must have wanted to spend the night down there? Any issues with poison oak? 

[daniel banquo merrick]

I don't know for sure but I don't think you can see this from Disappearing Dome, you might just be able to see the top few feet of these rocks.

Balloon Dome is at river mile 336, The bridge at Cassidy Crossing is at 339, Miller Crossing is at 341.5 and the confluence is at 344. The confluence is 6.0 miles NE of Disappearing Dome.

No poison oak and I looked very carefully.

[John]

Probably right if you were that far away. Here is a shot I think was taken from DD.

[daniel banquo merrick]

I think your image is looking almost exactly towards Cassidy Bridge. The crags I photographed are about 26 degrees to the left of the center of your photo.