Tomichi Dome (11,465) & UN 8705 by Brian Schultz Sunday July 20, 2014

Tomichi Dome:

Roundtrip mileage: 4.75 miles from CR 887

Elevation gain: 2,675'

Start to finish: 4 hours 35 minutes

With the poor weather forecast in the Sawatch range, and just about everywhere else, I changed plans and headed to this area because it actually had a good forecast. Tomichi Dome has been on my to do list for several years and the timing was great because it was also on the way to Crested Butte where I'd be meeting Tim Briese in the evening. I turned off Highway 50 just past Doyleville and drove north on CR 887.

This is an excellent gravel road that any two wheel drive can handle but I was dismayed to see private property/no trespassing signs on the west side of Tomichi all the way up until I reached the north side. Thankfully, the land on the north side is public trust land. I parked near a lake where camping is allowed (just past mile marker 6) and crossed back over the road. I began at 7:40 and stayed on the right side of the fence before jumping it shortly afterward.

I didn't have any information on climbing this peak so I headed across a field to the northwest ridge. The field traveled quickly and the trees on the ridge weren't too dense, which helped, but the ascent up the ridge to the summit was steep with long stretches of talus. From the highway it's not so obvious but this peak is one giant talus heap.

I arrived on the summit at 9:55 and pulled out the register from a can attached to a post. Two notebooks were inside, the first was placed in 1997 by Mike Garratt. I was the seventh signer this year, five others climbed in June and one in March. I stayed on top for 40 minutes and enjoyed the sunny clear weather before departing. I descended my ascent route, stopped briefly to take pictures of some columbines, and got back to my truck at 12:15.

UN 8705:

Roundtrip mileage: 1 mile

Elevation gain: 120'

Start to finish: ~30 minutes

I drove back to Doyleville and followed good roads on the south side of Highway 50 to this peak. I drove up a sandy 4x4 road, parked at the halfway point, and walked the rest of the way to the top. It was an easy hike on the road and over to the summit, which offered a nice view of Tomichi Dome.

-Back-