Terra Tomah Mountain

Terra Tomah Mountain
Terra Tomah Mountain
	Northeast aspect
Highest point
Elevation	12,718 ft (3,876 m)
Prominence	238 ft (73 m)
Parent peak	Mount Julian (12,933 ft)
Isolation	0.61 mi (0.98 km)
Coordinates	40°22′35″N105°44′54″W / 40.3765138°N 105.7484370°W
Geography
	Terra Tomah Mountain Location in Colorado Terra Tomah Mountain Terra Tomah Mountain (the United States)
Location	Rocky Mountain National Park ; Larimer County, Colorado, US
Parent range	Rocky Mountains ; Front Range
Topo map	USGS Trail Ridge
Geology
Rock type	granite
Climbing
Easiest route	class 3 Southwest ridge

Last updated December 20, 2024

Terra Tomah Mountain is a 12,718-foot-elevation (3,876-meter) mountain summit located in Rocky Mountain National Park, in Larimer County, of Colorado, United States.^[3] It is situated 13 miles west of the community of Estes Park, and 1.5 mile east of the Continental Divide. Terra Tomah Mountain is part of the Front Range which is a subset of the Rocky Mountains. Topographic relief is significant as the northeast aspect rises 3,300 feet (1,000 meters) above Forest Canyon in 1.5 mile. It is a prominent landmark viewed from Forest Canyon Overlook along the Trail Ridge Road.

Etymology

In 1914 George Barnard was hiking here with the Colorado Mountain Club. Inspired by a lake, he chanted a Cahuilla ghost dance song with the lyrics "terra toma", which was popular among students at Pomona College where he attended.^[5] The president of the club, James Grafton Rogers, submitted the name for the lake to the federal government for consideration. However, the government erred by applying this name to the mountain instead. In 1923 the club listed it as "Terra Tomah Peak" in their publication, The Mountain Peaks of Colorado.^[6] The mountain's current name was officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names in 1932.^[3] David Prescott Barrows, who worked with the Cahuilla and taught the song to the college students, was unable to obtain the meaning of the words.^[7] The lake was later named Doughnut Lake, and it lies below the west base of the mountain.

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Terra Tomah Mountain is located in an alpine subarctic climate zone with cold, snowy winters, and cool to warm summers.^[8] Due to its altitude, it receives precipitation all year, as snow in winter, and as thunderstorms in summer, with a dry period in late spring. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains northeast into the Big Thompson River.

Gallery

Northeast aspect, from Trail Ridge Road
The view of Forest Canyon from Trail Ridge Road at sunrise. Mount Julian centered in the distance with Terra Tomah Mountain left of center. Camera pointed south.

Related Research Articles

Rocky Mountain National Park is a national park of the United States located approximately 55 mi (89 km) northwest of Denver in north-central Colorado, within the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. The park is situated between the towns of Estes Park to the east and Grand Lake to the west. The eastern and western slopes of the Continental Divide run directly through the center of the park with the headwaters of the Colorado River located in the park's northwestern region. The main features of the park include mountains, alpine lakes and a wide variety of wildlife within various climates and environments, from wooded forests to mountain tundra.

Mount Elbert is the highest summit of the Rocky Mountains of North America. With an elevation of 14,438 feet (4400.58 m), it is also the highest point in the U.S. state of Colorado and the second-highest summit in the contiguous United States after Mount Whitney, which is slightly taller. The ultra-prominent fourteener is the highest peak in the Sawatch Range, as well as the highest point in the entire Mississippi River drainage basin. Mount Elbert is located in San Isabel National Forest, 12.1 miles (19.4 km) southwest of the city of Leadville in Lake County, Colorado.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trail Ridge Road</span> Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway

Trail Ridge Road is the name for the 48-mile (77 km) stretch of U.S. Highway 34 that traverses Rocky Mountain National Park from Estes Park, Colorado in the east to Grand Lake, Colorado in the west. Together with the connecting 6.9-mile (11 km) Beaver Meadow Road, Trail Ridge Road forms the 55-mile (89 km) Trail Ridge Road/Beaver Meadow National Scenic Byway, an All-American Road. With a high point at 12,183 feet (3,713 m) elevation, Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous paved road in North America. The higher portion of Trail Ridge Road is closed from October to May.

Humboldt Peak is a high mountain summit of the Crestones in the Sangre de Cristo Range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. The 14,070-foot (4,289 m) fourteener is located in the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness of San Isabel National Forest, 11.9 miles (19.2 km) south-southwest of the Town of Westcliffe in Custer County, Colorado, United States.

Crystal Peak is a high mountain summit in the Tenmile Range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. The 13,859-foot (4,224 m) thirteener is in White River National Forest, 5.9 miles (9.5 km) southwest of the Town of Breckenridge in Summit County, Colorado, United States.

Arizona is a landlocked state situated in the southwestern region of the United States of America. It has a vast and diverse geography famous for its deep canyons, high- and low-elevation deserts, numerous natural rock formations, and volcanic mountain ranges. Arizona shares land borders with Utah to the north, the Mexican state of Sonora to the south, New Mexico to the east, and Nevada to the northwest, as well as water borders with California and the Mexican state of Baja California to the southwest along the Colorado River. Arizona is also one of the Four Corners states and is diagonally adjacent to Colorado.

Hallett Peak is a mountain summit in the northern Front Range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. The 12,720-foot (3,877 m) peak is located in the Rocky Mountain National Park Wilderness, 10.1 miles (16.2 km) southwest by west of the Town of Estes Park, Colorado, United States, on the Continental Divide between Grand and Larimer counties.

Mount Ida is a mountain summit in the northern Front Range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. The 12,874-foot (3,924 m) peak is located in the Rocky Mountain National Park Wilderness, 13.4 miles (21.6 km) west of the Town of Estes Park, Colorado, United States, on the Continental Divide between Grand and Larimer counties. The mountain was probably named after Mount Ida on Crete.

Chief Cheley Peak is a mountain summit in the northern Front Range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. The 12,815-foot (3,906 m) peak is located in the Rocky Mountain National Park Wilderness, 13.1 miles (21.1 km) west of the Town of Estes Park, Colorado, United States, on the Continental Divide between Grand and Larimer counties.

Mount Emma is a 13,581-foot-elevation (4,139-meter) mountain summit located in San Miguel County of Colorado, United States. It is situated three miles north of the community of Telluride, on the south side of Yankee Boy Basin, in the Uncompahgre National Forest. It is part of the Sneffels Range which is a subset of the San Juan Mountains, which in turn is part of the Rocky Mountains. Mount Emma is situated west of the Continental Divide, two miles south of Mount Sneffels, and 0.8 mile south of Gilpin Peak, the nearest higher neighbor. Emma ranks as the 197th-highest peak in Colorado, and the 10th-highest in the Sneffels Range. Topographic relief is significant as the south aspect rises 4,830 feet above Telluride in approximately three miles. An ascent of Mt. Emma is a difficult climb with 2,180 feet of elevation gain covering three miles from Yankee Boy Basin, or 4,836 feet of elevation gain from Telluride. This mountain's name was officially adopted by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.

Engineer Mountain is a 12,968-foot-elevation (3,953-meter) mountain summit located in San Juan County, Colorado, United States. It is part of the San Juan Mountains range which is a subset of the Rocky Mountains, and is west of the Continental Divide. Engineer Mountain is a prominent landmark set 1.5 mile immediately west of Coal Bank Pass, and is visible from multiple viewpoints along Highway 550, making it one of the most photographed mountains in the San Juans. It is situated 11 miles southwest of the community of Silverton, on land managed by San Juan National Forest. Topographic relief is significant as the southwest aspect rises 3,800 feet above Cascade Creek in approximately two miles. Neighbors include Snowdon Peak seven miles to the east, and Twilight Peak, five miles to the southeast.

Hayden Spire is a 12,480+ foot elevation (3,800 meter) pillar located in Rocky Mountain National Park, in Larimer County, Colorado, United States. It is situated 12 miles west of the community of Estes Park in Hayden Gorge, along a short spur on the Continental Divide. Hayden Spire is part of the Front Range which is a subset of the Rocky Mountains. It is the highest tower in a cluster of spires which can be viewed from Forest Canyon Overlook along the Trail Ridge Road. Topographic relief is significant as the north aspect rises 2,100 feet above Hayden Gulch in one-half mile. Neighbors include Terra Tomah Mountain two miles to the north, and Mount Julian 1.8 mile to the northwest.

Ostler Peak is a 12,718-foot elevation (3,876 m) mountain summit located in Summit County, Utah, United States.

Mount Jasper is a 12,923-foot (3,939 m) mountain summit on the boundary shared by Boulder County and Grand County, in Colorado, United States.

Stones Peak is a 12,922-foot-elevation (3,939-meter) mountain summit located in Larimer County, Colorado. It is situated in Rocky Mountain National Park, one mile east of the Continental Divide and 11.5 miles (18.5 km) west of the community of Estes Park. Stones Peak is part of the Front Range which is a subrange of the Rocky Mountains. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into tributaries of the Big Thompson River. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises over 3,900 feet above the Big Thompson River in Forest Canyon in two miles. The peak is a prominent landmark viewed from Forest Canyon Overlook along the Trail Ridge Road.

Sprague Mountain is a 12,713-foot-elevation (3,875-meter) mountain summit on the boundary shared by Grand County and Larimer County, in Colorado, United States. It is set on the Continental Divide in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, and 12.5 miles (20.1 km) west of the community of Estes Park. Precipitation runoff from the mountain's east side drains into tributaries of the Big Thompson River and the west slope drains into headwaters of Tonahutu Creek which flows to Grand Lake. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises over 1,900 feet above Tonahutu Creek in one mile. The peak is visible from Trail Ridge Road.

Apache Peak is a 13,441-foot (4,097 m) mountain summit on the boundary shared by Boulder County and Grand County, in Colorado, United States.

Mount Stratus is a 12,534-foot-elevation (3,820-meter) mountain summit in Grand County, Colorado, United States.

Carson Peak is a 13,662-foot-elevation (4,164-meter) summit in Hinsdale County, Colorado, United States.

Chipeta Mountain is a mountain summit in the Sawatch Range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. The 13,472-foot (4,106 m) mountain is located in Chaffee County, Colorado, and in the San Isabel National Forest.

References

1 2 "Terra Tomah Mountain, Colorado". Peakbagger.com.
1 2 3 "Terra Tomah Mountain - 12,718' CO". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2021-07-23.
1 2 3 "Terra Tomah Mountain". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved 2021-07-23.
↑ Lisa Foster, 2005, Rocky Mountain National Park: The Complete Hiking Guide, Westcliffe Publishers, ISBN 9781565795501, page 102
↑ James Dziezynski, Best Summit Hikes in Colorado, 2012, Wilderness Press, ISBN 9780899977133, page 110.
↑ Roger W. Toll, 1923, The Mountain Peaks of Colorado, page 49.
↑ William Bright, Colorado Place Names, 2004, Johnson Books, ISBN 9781555663339, page 173.
↑ Peel, M. C.; Finlayson, B. L.; McMahon, T. A. (2007). "Updated world map of the Köppen−Geiger climate classification". Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 11. ISSN 1027-5606.

External links

Weather forecast: Terra Tomah Mountain

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[pb-1] 1 2 "Terra Tomah Mountain, Colorado". Peakbagger.com.

[listsofjohn-2] 1 2 3 "Terra Tomah Mountain - 12,718' CO". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2021-07-23.

[gnis-3] 1 2 3 "Terra Tomah Mountain". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved 2021-07-23.

[4] Lisa Foster, 2005, Rocky Mountain National Park: The Complete Hiking Guide, Westcliffe Publishers, ISBN 9781565795501, page 102

[5] James Dziezynski, Best Summit Hikes in Colorado, 2012, Wilderness Press, ISBN 9780899977133, page 110.

[6] Roger W. Toll, 1923, The Mountain Peaks of Colorado, page 49.

[7] William Bright, Colorado Place Names, 2004, Johnson Books, ISBN 9781555663339, page 173.

[Peel-8] Peel, M. C.; Finlayson, B. L.; McMahon, T. A. (2007). "Updated world map of the Köppen−Geiger climate classification". Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 11. ISSN 1027-5606.

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