Early Access
| Type: | Trad, 900 ft (273 m), 6 pitches |
| GPS: | 40.41269, -105.5516 |
| FA: | unknown |
| Page Views: | 2,023 total · 7/month |
| Shared By: | Doug Dakins on Jul 11, 2002 |
| Admins: | Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC |
From the Denver Post 7/21/24: some of the raptor closures have been lifted, officials announced.
Upper & Lower Twin Owls, Rock One, The Book and access trail, Bookmark, and Left Book were opened based on a park new release.
Closures have been extended for Thunder Buttress, access trail, The Parish, Cathedral Wall.
Closures above the Loch Vale-Sky Pond trail have been extended.
Per Brent Frazier: the raptor closures have been lifted in the Lumpy Ridge and Loch Vale Areas ( nps.gov/romo/raptor-closure…)
Each year, Rocky Mountain National Park initiates temporary closures in certain areas of the park to ensure that birds of prey will be undisturbed during their breeding and nesting seasons. These closures begin on February 15 and continue through July 31, if appropriate. Monitoring by park staff and volunteers have determined that all remaining closures can be lifted on July 28, 2023.
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.
I only bring i…
: Sundance is no longer closed. See nps.gov/romo/upload/Lumpy-R….2019 Seasonal closures are in place. Check with Backcountry Office (970-586-1242).
RMNP
6/12/15
K.Patterson 970-586-1363
Sundance Buttress Closure Added Other Closures Removed Or Continued
To Protect Nesting Raptors in RMNP
Each yr to protect raptor nesting sites, RMNP officials initiate temporary closures in the Lumpy Ridge & Sheep Mountain areas of the park. To enable wildlife managers to gather info and ensure that raptors can nest undisturbed, specific areas within the park are closed temporarily to public use during nesting season.
Due to raptor nesting activity, Sundance Buttress in the Lumpy Ridge area has been added to the closure areas. The following sites will remain temporarily closed until further notice - Alligator Rock, Twin Owls, Rock One, Sheep Mountain, & now Sundance Buttress. These closures include all climbing, approach and descent routes for the indicated formations on all sides of those formations.
The following closures have been lifted - Batman Rock, Batman Pinnacle, Checkerboard Rock, Lightning Rock, Thunder Buttress, No Name and Parish. The National Park Service is committed to preserving birds of prey. The same cliffs that attract raptors also appeal to climbers. The cooperation of climbing organizations and individuals is essential to the successful nesting of raptors in the park.
Kyle Patterson
Public Information Officer/Management Specialist
RMNP
(970) 586-1363 nps.gov/romo facebook.com/RockyNPS
Description
This route is located about 100 feet beyond Eumenides. Look for the next continuous dihedral. The start is below a roof/dihedral. Scramble an easy 4th class dihedral crack until about 40 feet below roof/dihedral.
P1. 5.9. Head slightly left up a slab to the roof. Place pro in roof and pull over at a crack. Follow corner until it turns into a nice dihedral. At the top, undercling out small bulge to the left and make a few moves to easier ground. Good pro. Rossiter's guidebook says 6 inch crack, but the wide section is very short. ~180'.
P2. 5.7. Climb up and back right into the dihedral for a long, wide, lieback pitch. Toward the end of the pitch I climbed out of the dihedral at an old rap anchor to the right moved up and stepped back in to the dihedral to avoid a wide section. Belay at a small alcove with good, hand-sized cracks. Kinda of dirty and wide. There was some vegetation in the dihedral that was dusty and annoying. May want an additional big piece, ~170'.
P3. 5.9, the business. Climb a very thin dihedral with a black groove in it. Place pro early as there is not much for the next 10 feet. There is a trick to getting started and some hidden pro. The dihedral opens to good, finger liebacks with some tricky but solid pro. At the top of the dihedral, move left across a slab. Go to the end of the slab and belay below another, left-facing dihedral. Maybe 30-40 feet to the left of the thin dihedral. I found the crux to be about ten feet up at a small bulge with a very poor Alien at my waist. A couple of moves and you can get some bomber pro and good finger locks, ~110'.
P4. 5.8. Climb a left-facing dihedral and move right to a slightly overhanging, short, hand crack. Crank through the overhang and follow another shallow dihedral. Belay on an awesome chair-like ledge, ~100'.
P5. 5.8. Pick a finish. Eds. The original finish angles right and pash a bush in a crack. We finished with Eumenides, which basically climbed a neat finger crack to the left and pulled over a small roof 40 feet above the belay. From there, I went left and up picking the easiest way as I was beat! ~180'.
P6. 5.6. Up to the top, ~100'.
Notes: A good route with a spicy crux - a fine Sundance adventure. This is my first year leading 9s and the crux mentally pushed me mostly because the pro was kinda nasty, although it was all good climbing. P2 [was the only pitch I did not care for]. I am curious to see what other folks think.



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