Mount Dana

California, 13,055 ft

Mount Dana is the second highest mountain located in Yosemite National Park in California. The trailhead is literally located at the east entrance gate to the park. Amy Stuart and I climbed Mount Dana in August 2017. Although a relatively short climb (3100ft of elevation gain) with no real technical climbing, the mountain should not be underestimated. During our climb, we had to navigate a steep snow field, route find as the snowfield covered the trail, and we were chased off the summit by a potential thunderstorm. There were quite a few folks climbing above 12,000ft for the first time and had to battle Acute Mountain Sickness. That said, the route has some of the most beautiful scenery of all the mountains I've climbed as you look out over the High Sierra of Yosemite and into Mono Lake in the valley below.