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Thunder Buttress Rock Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Routes in Thunder Buttress

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Thunder Buttress Route T 5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b

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Elevation:	8,820 ft
GPS:	40.412, -105.549 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	1,810 total · 9/month
Shared By:	Kurt Johnson on Oct 29, 2006
Admins:	Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC Page Updates (admin only)

Access Issue: 2022 Seasonal Raptor Closures Details

Per Matt Coghill: the Golden eagle nesting activity has extended Lumpy closures through Aug. 15, 2022 on Sundance, Thunder Buttress, and Needle Summit!

Per A.Eaton: the raptor closures have been lifted as of 6/4/2022 at Lumpy for the following formations:

Twin Owls
Rock One
Batman Rock
Batman Pinnacle
Checkerboard
Lightning Rock

Per the Denver Post: as of Feb. 15, 2022, Checkerboard Rock, Lightning Rock, Batman Rock, Batman Pinnacle, Sundance, Thunder Buttress, The Parish, Bookmark Pinnacle, The Left Book, Bookmark, Twin Owls, Rock One, and the Needle are closed for raptor nesting. These closures will continue through July 31, 2022 if needed.

All areas [were] OPEN to climbing for the 2021 post July season.

Closures ending July 31:
Batman Rock, Batman Pinnacle, Lightning Rock, Checkerboard Rock - nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/…
Sundance - nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/…
The Book Area: Left Book, The Bookmark, Bookmark Pinnacle, and the entire Book formation (including Renaissance Wall, Isis Buttress, Pages Wall Area, and J-Crack Slab Area)-nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/…
Thunder Buttress and The Parish - nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/…
Twin Owls and Rock One - nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/…
Cathedral Wall - nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/…

When closed, the closures include the named rock formations and the areas surrounding the base of the formation. This includes all climbing routes, outcroppings, cliffs, faces, ascent and descent routes, and climber's access trails to the formation.

Areas not listed are presumed to be open. These closures will be lifted or extended as conditions dictate.

Thunder Buttress

The last major formation before Sundance, Thunder Buttress is a three to four pitch rock split by a long discontinuous ledge, the bottom half being a slab much like the Pear, and the top half being steep, blocky and plagued with lichens and loose rock. It certainly isn't a classic crag, but you're guaranteed to have it all to yourself.

Getting There

Hike to the base of the Pear and head west for about a quarter mile (no trail) until you find Thunder Buttress, or continue on the main trail toward Sundance and bushwhack straight up the slope.