Tiptoe Slab

The two bolts on this route are pretty close to being [disintegrated], or rusting out of [their] holes for that matter. But, don't let that scare you, the bomber footholds just keep on coming. Very fun climb, great views... Just like climbing the third or something, except, without five other parties joining in for the fun! Aug 13, 2001

The start of this route is at a good-sized tree that is at the bottom of a great looking slab with a right-facing corner on the left and a left-facing corner on the right. The first bolt was easy to find, but I never saw the second. Sep 10, 2001

Mike, I almost went right past the second bolt too! It was at my waist when I found the old rusted out thing. It was exactly the same color as the rock...rust brown! Its about halfway up the second pitch...not that the bolt is any good though...:) Sep 10, 2001

Please don't tell me you had intentions of clipping those bolts! Dec 4, 2002

We finally found both bolts on this route this morning, after climbing it many times. Mike's comment helps to find the first bolt. The second is even harder to see, and is a few feet left of a plumb line up from the first bolt (and about 200' higher!). It does lie just right of a water groove. Both these bolts are pretty lousy and mainly useful to confirm you are on this route! Dec 11, 2002

Just to throw in my two cents:

What a great slab climb this is...

If you chose not to use the bolts (probably wise), there is very little available in the way of protection. I did not see a great deal available until you reach the supposed belay areas (we soloed it so it was hard to sort out where the belays would be). The leader should regard this climb as a solo adventure for practical purposes...

WT Dec 11, 2002

I can't picture those bolts holding anything. This was fun - it's like a bunch of marbles cemented in place. Jun 12, 2004

From the picture, it appears that someone has hammered the first bolt back into its hole. I remember it sticking out about a 1/4-1/2 inch and being bent down.

These bolts should not be replaced for historical reasons. It is not to often you find one of these little treasures on a route. Nov 14, 2004

Both bolts have been replaced with new, modern 1/2" Petzl Bolts. This was a pleasant surprise when I did the route today, because the bolt on pitch one is the only real protection. Apr 1, 2007

It's too bad these guys were replaced. They added a lot of character to the route. A big fat shiny bolt will be an eye sore.

The first pitch has not had any reliable pro for the last decade. It was one of the few, no-pro pitches of the grade in the Flatirons. Apr 2, 2007

The new bolts are not "Shiny". They are painted to match the rock and are not visible from the start of the climb. Apr 2, 2007

Did this climb today, great climb to bring a beginner up! Be prepared to solo the first pitch though, I completely missed the first bolt and didn't get anything in till I made an anchor. My partner pointed the bolt out on her way up, but neither of us saw the 2nd bolt.... A single set of TCUs plus a 1 & 2 Camalot and 6 trad draws is all you really need. Apr 11, 2010

Nice outing...simple approach and good rock/moves.

Start is close to the northern edge where a funny looking tree is growing at the base of a clean slab splitting two opposing flakes.

First bolt is visible from the ground more or less straight up.

Second bolt is 60m off the deck and left of the first bolt, maybe further left than you'd think. To reach it you must leave the slab itself at a sloping ledge/dish perhaps 50m up.

Alternatively one may climb the slab itself all the way to the summit...break right at the sloping ledge instead of heading left to the second bolt. IMO this is higher quality, maybe bumping the climb up to 3 stars. But there is no protection and nowhere to belay until the summit.

Rappel off the tree anchor or downclimb the sketchy looking mini arch. Sep 23, 2011

Great fun for an easy family climb. This was our first family multi-pitch climb together. Me, the wife, and our two boys ages 4 and 6. If you're the leader for your group, be ready for a solo more or less. I found one of the two bolts on the route. This is the only pro besides slinging a horn or two. For gear, bring #0.75, #1, #2, #3 Camalots for the frist belay. The seconed belay there are some nice boulders to sling if you have a 20' cord. We rapped off the first tree just down and NW of the summit. I don't think this was the rap described, but it worked just fine and provided a comfortable flat area for the kids to hang while setting up the rappel. BTW, if anyone spots a black Lowe camera case, I sure would like to get it back. Sep 26, 2011

Fun route, but not even close to 420 feet. I soloed and brought my wife up 2nd. I ran my whole 70m rope out for the first pitch, was about 30 feet from the summit. My guess is 250 feet. Jul 12, 2013

I don't know, Paul B - it seems about 420ft to me. Aug 10, 2013

Fun climb. A few thoughts: The "right-facing dihedral" referenced above is more of a right-facing flake system IMO. The bolt on the first pitch is almost directly in line with what is now a dead tree at the base and was the first pro I came across. Falling in most places on the first pitch would be bad. After the first pitch, the climbing was very secure and easy. Apr 12, 2014

Did this as a solo outing today. My main takeaway is to stay generally in the Northern gully, which aside from a few spots was good old Flatiron slab. I got super off route and definitely made some more difficult moves than 5.2 to get back on route. I ended up re-climbing the route and did find some nice new-ish looking bolts, but they are definitely hard to find. When on route, it's a great one. The downclimb was fairly straightforward to onsight, just follow a ledge down the northern side around a mini-arch. Dec 13, 2014

I climbed this route yesterday, May 13, 2015, with Aaron Nichols leading. Never found the bolts, found a flake with enough cracks for an anchor about 100' feet up towards the right side. We then discovered the rap slings were missing off the tree on the ledge that is located on south side after a short downclimb. There were new rap slings replaced there last fall, which should not have been removed. We installed a new cord and rap ring and would appreciate if this is left in place. This route is used for beginning climbers who cannot be expected to downclimb the backside descent. May 14, 2015

The rap sling has been bootied again, but the downclimb is really quite easy. Jun 4, 2015

If you belay at the first gear/ledge at 120 feet, you can reach the top from here with a 70. So, no more than 360 feet total....

You might not want to use this tree anymore. It's very dead and barely holding a big, loose rock. Jun 14, 2015