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Thatchtop Mountain Rock Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Areas in Thatchtop Mountain

East Face 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 1

North Face 3 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 3 / 3

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Elevation:	10,200 ft	3,109 m
GPS:	40.28841, -105.65725 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	7,487 total · 66/month
Shared By:	Adam B on Aug 28, 2015
Admins:	Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC Page Updates (admin only)

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Access Issue: Closures Details

Seasonal closures Feb. 15-July 31. Per the Denver Post:, the Cathedral Wall and all areas above the Loch Vale-Sky Pond Trail are closed to off-trail travel! Per this RMNP website, "Initial closures now occur in Feb. 15 and April, when raptors return to the region and scout for nesting sites. Areas containing general habitat preferred by raptors are closed during this time. Once raptors have selected nesting spots, the initial closures are lifted or adjusted. The specific areas which raptors choose for nesting sites are closed."

For additional information about raptor closures, please visit the Rocky Mountain National Parks area closures website.

General NPS climbing regulations for RMNP posted here.

Description

Thatchtop is a large peak with a nondescript summit in RMNP and is home to several of the Park's classic mixed and ice routes. Most of the features on the peak do not lend themselves to high quality rock climbing. However, above the Loch there are a handful of features with established rock climbs and good, moderately steep stone. A few single pitch routes can be found at the Lakeside Wall (found in the Gillett and Rossiter RMNP books) and make for a good alternative if committing to something bigger further up canyon becomes unsavory due to weather or otherwise.

There is another large wall on its North Face, just above the Loch and climbers right of the Deep Freeze gully and Necrophilia. This big face is home to the ephemeral mixed routes Broken Axes and Upper Wall, clocks in at about 1200 feet tall, and is broken up by a large ledge system at the 450 foot mark.

Getting There

Park at Glacier Gorge or, if the parking lot is full, Bear Lake. For the North-facing aspect, follow the signs to the Loch. For the Lakeside Wall, head around the outlet of the Loch and find a way across. For the North Face, head around to the west side of the lake and cross the stream shortly after passing the lake and head up the short talus slope. In the early season, the west side access is likely to be pretty exciting due to high waters. Access was super easy in late August for the North Face. For South-facing aspects (All Mixed Up zone), head towards Mill's Lake.