Trip Report
Hoffman's Thumb - Mt Hoffman w/ kids (added part 2 & vid, still need to add part 3)
Friday September 26, 2014 11:58pm
I still haven't ever seen a topo of the routes, but I was captivated when I saw a report a few weeks back. It was right before Labor Day weekend with the kids, deciding where I was going to take them. It's about time for their first proper backpacking trip.

We begin with an open air bivy in a nice spot. Colder than I expected, and the kids gave me some grief about it, but they were actually good sports about it.

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Toughening up the kids with a night under the stars and an icy morning...
Toughening up the kids with a night under the stars and an icy morning.
Credit: NutAgain!
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Good morning
Good morning
Credit: NutAgain!
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I had everything organized for a backpacking trip with climbing. Three harnesses, three helmets, etc... But forgot the rope! So we hung out waiting for the shop to open, made a nice breakfast at Lembert Dome. Ran into a nice guy there and actually bought a brand new 70m rope from him! Good fate.

So here's Mount Hoffman, the objective:
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We slept on the saddle between the peaks
We slept on the saddle between the peaks
Credit: NutAgain!
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Kids go through funny phases. My son cracks himself up imitating this troll face, and I told him someday I'll blackmail him with his girlfriends. There's Hoffman's Thumb in the background, I think from near the trailhead.
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Credit: NutAgain!
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Hanging out a May Lake on the way up:
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May Lake
May Lake
Credit: NutAgain!
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Cool rock on the edge of May Lake
Cool rock on the edge of May Lake
Credit: NutAgain!
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The next morning my son and I would hop along the ridge lines of both of the peaks in the background:
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Credit: NutAgain!
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Style runs deep in my family
Style runs deep in my family
Credit: NutAgain!
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Cloud's Rest looking good!
Cloud's Rest looking good!
Credit: NutAgain!
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Sometimes you need a break from the slog.
Sometimes you need a break from the slog.
Credit: NutAgain!
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I somehow missed the shortest path to the ridge line up to the saddle. So we had more time in the canyon below the saddle, above and west of May Lake.

Pretty great views along the way.

FEATURE REQUEST FOR CMAC: please get a better algorithm for shrinking pics you import. It makes panoramas look like crap, makes me want to just upload standard ratio images even when the panos are more dramatic and beautiful. But it's lost when they get shrunk down so small.

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May Lake
May Lake
Credit: NutAgain!
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Yosemite
Yosemite
Credit: NutAgain!
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Pain is temporary, glory lasts forever, and chicks dig scars.
Pain is temporary, glory lasts forever, and chicks dig scars.
Credit: NutAgain!
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As we gained the ridge toward the summit saddle, my daughter got a fire under her and blazed off ahead, not to be seen for a while. I was worried, she was too, lesson learned to stay in sight.
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Credit: NutAgain!
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This pic of my son has a perfect background overview of the glorious loop of Tenaya, Matthes, Echoes, Cathedral. I did part of it, someday will have a rematch with le_bruce.
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Credit: NutAgain!
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Hard to go wrong with the views in any direction from here:
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Credit: NutAgain!
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This was a pretty good slog for a first trip where they had to carry their own packs and deal with our version of the trail which was more like a climber's approach most of the time, with occasional sections where we found a better trail.
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Credit: NutAgain!
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It was pretty tough to find a flat spot for camp:
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Camping at the saddle on Mount Hoffman
Camping at the saddle on Mount Hoffman
Credit: NutAgain!
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No water up there so bring what you need. Going to sleep with tomorrow's objective in view:
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Hoffman's Thumb
Hoffman's Thumb
Credit: NutAgain!
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DAY 2

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Our camp
Our camp
Credit: NutAgain!
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My daughter opted for a slow start re-reading a Harry Potter book or something else. Both these kids lugged up a book several inches thick. They're voracious readers that fill me with pride. They even make fun of me now for how slowly I read. Anyways, my daughter hung out in the tent while I went to explore the nearest ridge and my son followed me soon after.

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Credit: NutAgain!
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Credit: NutAgain!
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Not a bad view before breakfast:
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Looking down on May Lake from a ridge on Mt Hoffman
Looking down on May Lake from a ridge on Mt Hoffman
Credit: NutAgain!
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(The bigger view is a 10meg pano too big to upload)

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Mt Hoffman
Mt Hoffman
Credit: NutAgain!
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[Click to View YouTube Video]

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Credit: NutAgain!
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No doubt about it, awesome start to the day, and I hope my son will look back on this time as fondly as I do. Had to check both the ridges you can see from May Lake

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Credit: NutAgain!
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Credit: NutAgain!
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Credit: NutAgain!
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And heading back to make breakfast and break down camp. Mountains are usually bigger than they seem like from far away.

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So beautiful it makes you want to run and jump with joy :)
So beautiful it makes you want to run and jump with joy :)
Credit: NutAgain!
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Credit: NutAgain!
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Credit: NutAgain!
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Phew!
Main peak and the thumb still ahead...
To be continued...

  Trip Report Views: 4,349
NutAgain!
About the Author
NutAgain! is a trad climber from South Pasadena, CA.

Comments
RyanD

climber
  Sep 27, 2014 - 12:03am PT
Awesome! Looking forward to pt.2!

Gnome Ofthe Diabase

climber
Out Of Bed
  Sep 27, 2014 - 02:19am PT
I have shown this to My kids wow so much what a big bite and A healthy chew to did this last for four days or just two?The whole trip looks great
plan to try the fall camping thing.
My children, they cross finger promise, the Mommy and Me will have to be taskmasters . They are veal no muscle Tone at all
and the soccer is always in the way
Nut Again I'm jealous !!and will look forward to more!!
Gnome Ofthe Diabase

climber
Out Of Bed
  Sep 27, 2014 - 06:06am PT
Bump fight the spam bump for the family outing an for when they ,them kids carry more
Weight
Captain...or Skully

climber
Boise, ID
  Sep 27, 2014 - 10:29am PT
Sweet pics......TFPU!!
survival

Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
  Sep 27, 2014 - 11:31am PT
NutAgain, it's a completely different beast taking the kids on an adventure outing, where they experience more than the roadside views.

Back country, Backpacks, fatigue, scenery change, weather, it's a whole different deal than doing it with your strongest partner, but well worth it.

I have gotten my kids on some gnarly hikes and up some big peaks. It has a whole different set of challenges and rewards for Dad.

I applaud you, and your kids.
mtnyoung

Trad climber
Twain Harte, California
  Sep 27, 2014 - 11:37am PT

Toughening up the kids with a night under the stars and an icy morning.

Perfect :)
Fat Dad

Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
  Sep 27, 2014 - 02:11pm PT
Nice. I wanted to get out to May Lake and Mt. Hoffmann with the kids this past summer, but the youngest just turned four, so he's not quite there yet. Something to aim for next summer.
Jon Beck

Trad climber
Oceanside
  Sep 27, 2014 - 02:36pm PT
Fun times! I saw Hoffman when coming up the Snow Creek trail, definitely made my short list after staring at it for 20 or so minutes. Good one to do with the kids.
Jaybro

Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
  Sep 27, 2014 - 02:51pm PT
"A night on the ground a day in the open," as Doug put it.

You do so well by those kids!

made a nice breakfast at Lembert Dome. Ran into a nice guy there and actually bought a brand new 70m rope from him! Good fate.

Good karma in action!

Great narrative, can't wait for more!
Ezra Ellis

Trad climber
North wet, and Da souf
  Sep 27, 2014 - 06:09pm PT
Lucky kidos there nut!!!
looks easy from here

climber
Santa Cruzish
  Oct 1, 2014 - 11:15am PT
Bump for Thumb envy, and getting me stoked on being an adventurous dad! Always love your family trips, NutAgain.
JEleazarian

Trad climber
Fresno CA
  Oct 1, 2014 - 12:39pm PT
Thanks, Nut Again! I took my daughters up Hoffman when they were around 5 and 7 (almost 6 and 8), but I didn't want to do the Thumb without another competent climber to make sure the girls, e.g., stayed tied in correctly. It didn't matter. They had a great time, and 21 years later both love the mountains, and even condescend to climb with me at times. I hope you and your family enjoy many years of climbing together.

John
le_bruce

climber
Oakland, CA
  Oct 1, 2014 - 04:00pm PT
Hey I've worn that grubby orange pack many times. Looks better on N. than on me, though.

Cheers to the Nut family!
NutAgain!

Trad climber
https://nutagain.org
Author's Reply  Oct 1, 2014 - 08:10pm PT
Bump 'cuz I added some pics and a video of the pre-breakfast adventure s scrambling on the ridges overlooking May Lake. Still need to finish the main summit and Hoffman's Thumb part of the report, but not tonight.
Mark Sensenbach

climber
CA
  Oct 1, 2014 - 11:45pm PT
Nut thanks for great report. Cant wait to get back up there. Really special hike and spot. Thanks again. :)))
looks easy from here

climber
Santa Cruzish
  Oct 20, 2014 - 04:58pm PT
Bump for part 3 and the Thumb!
survival

Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
  Oct 20, 2014 - 05:04pm PT
Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!



[Click to View YouTube Video]



(Applause for dads and kids and moderate climbing content that's still climbing content!!)
looks easy from here

climber
Santa Cruzish
  Dec 17, 2014 - 11:40am PT
BumpAgain! for Part 3 and the Thumb. :p
Gary

Social climber
Desolation Basin, Calif.
  Dec 17, 2014 - 11:52am PT
Nice report, and a nice trip! A great hike, byw, is to continue cross country from Hoffmann over to Tuolumne Peak, and then back to May Lake.
crankster

Trad climber
No. Tahoe
  Dec 17, 2014 - 01:15pm PT
Fun times in the mountains with kids - awesome.
fear

Ice climber
hartford, ct
  Dec 17, 2014 - 01:25pm PT
So rare to see kids outside these days around here, it's almost a little scary. Good job getting them out!
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