Toiyabe Dome (with Jerry & Cheryl) - 6/10/20

Toiyabe Dome from "gentle" Approach Ridge

Steep Talus within minutes of Starting Up

Navigation Check

Steep Talus to Steep Talus

Jerry and Cheryl climbed Toiyabe Dome a few days ago. To use hiker speak, it was a "One and Done!" The word, horrible, was actually used to describe this talus-covered hike! When talus wasn't the obstacle, thick forested terrain covered their path. Four thousand elevation feet were gained over the first two miles of the ten mile hike making the climb to the corner sub peak extremely steep in a constant manner. And, within minutes of starting up from the trailhead, talus was underfoot. Toiyabe Dome is definitely a climb one can be proud of conquering. (Albeit, horrible!) 

To get to the trailhead for the 11,361' peak, drive north on SR-95 from Las Vegas to Tonopah, go east on SR-6 then north on SR-376. Drive about 55.5 miles and turn left on Cove Canyon Road. It is just over a mile on this road to the trailhead at the end. Staying to the right of the peak's main drainage, head for the first ridge.

Cheryl made a few notes for some of the photos which I will italicize. Thanks Jerry and Cheryl for sending this report and photos to us. Nature is wild and strong!

Hill on Left was our Target through the Thick Trees

You gain 4000’ in the first two miles. Once you gain that, the trip reports indicate you’re then able to hike on a gentle ridge to the summit. Getting to that ridge required scrambling exposed and non exposed rock, hiking up very steep, loose talus (about 50%+ of the hike was on talus), and bushwhacking.

First Rule of Hiking - The first peak is never the final peak!

We need to get to that hill in the upper left.  Lots of trees - it was pretty thick in there. We had twigs down our shirts a lot. We thought getting up that hill would bring us to the gentle ridge that leads to the summit.

Past the first False Peak

Hiking past a Rock Outcropping

  Wrong!  We are now on that hill and we realize that there is quite a lot left to hike before we can get to that gentle ridge that leads to the summit.  Our next goal is the sub peak in the distance on the far left on the ridge. It’s hard to tell but there’s a ridge between us and that sub peak we’ll need to climb first. We’ll hike up through the forest to the top of that ridge, drop down and hike up the sub peak.

 If you're not balancing across talus, you're making your way through brush or scrambling over rocks all the while hiking relentlessly up one steep slope after another.

Sub Peak (Corner) seen in Distance

Above, Jerry is climbing up the sub peak. Below, our ascent ridge is directly behind me. Then, in the next photo, at the top of the sub peak, there’s Toiyabe Dome in the distance! 

Cheryl finishes Climb to "Gentle" Ridge

It’s the highest point on that far ridge and has large patches of snow on it. The gentle ridge leading us to the summit lies ahead but before we reach it we have one more challenge....

"Easy" Traverse around to "Gentle" Ridge

Not so easy Traverse

We have to side hill across a steep slope of talus. Of course!

Jerry mentions that navigating the initial steep ridge was very difficult. Several times, they had to search around for a route through the brush. The ever present talus ranged in size but most of the time, it was around 1 foot in diameter and unstable. 

Talus - pronounced tal-les (rhymes with malice!)

ta·​lus | \ ˈtā-ləs  , ˈta- \

Definition of talus

1: a slope formed especially by an accumulation of rock debris

2: rock debris at the base of a cliff

Starting out "Gentle" Ridge to Peak

Finally on the "gentle" ridge, Jerry and Cheryl rejoiced on the easier terrain. The talus became more and more scarce. However, the steepness continued until they were on the peak. Views were outstanding!

Working up the "Gentle" Ridge to the Peak

Woooo hooooo! Behind us is Arc Dome. We summited it in August 2017. All trail!  More people summit it than Toiyabe Dome. Only eight people have signed the Toiyabe Dome register between 2016-2019. Jerry and I are the only ones this year. Wonder why?!

Jerry & Cheryl on Toiyabe Dome (Arc Dome in Distance)

Returning along the "Gentle" Ridge

Coming back down, we diverted from our ascent route and followed the North Canyon descent route. It was getting dark and the gulley was quite challenging with lots of loose rock, dead trees and debris. By now, we were tired and were extremely careful not to make a mistake. Besides the views, there was one thing I won't forget - the smell of sage. It was everywhere. So was tree pollen. I don't have allergies but between the sage and the pollen, it will take a few days for my sinuses to recover! ~ Cheryl T.

In a post that Jerry wrote, he mentions that there are a few pourovers in the descent gulley. One of the downclimbs required the aid of a nearby bush!

Stats: 10.3 miles; 5478' gain; 13 hours

Negotiating Talus back to Sub Peak in Distance

Starting down from Sub Peak

Down through the Forest and Brushy Canyon