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Minas Tireth

5.10a, Sport, 60 ft (18 m),  Avg: 1.7 from 198 votes
FA: Richard Rossiter, 2005
Colorado > Boulder > Boulder Canyon > Watermark
Warning Access Issue: Seasonal Closures 2025 - Bitty Buttress, Blob, Security Risk reopened. Eagle Rock opened 5/19/25. DetailsDrop down

Description

This is a short route that climbs an arete and a roof between Road to Isengard and Lothlorien. About 15' of hard climbing on slightly crumbly rock.

Start in the same spot as for Road to Isengard. Move up and right to a slab. It's a long way to the first bolt, but the climbing is easy. You might want to clip the first bolt on Road to Isengard and then move right. Clip two bolts on the slab and continue up to a steep headwall. Work up the left arete and move right onto a slab below the roof (crux). Clip the last bolt above the roof and turn the roof on the right. The 2-bolt anchor is just above.

Protection

6 bolts to a 2-bolt anchor with rings.

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Minas Tirith.  Start with Road to Isengard, then break right to a left-facing corner.  Climb the corner and a steep face and turn a roof to the top.
[Hide Photo] Minas Tirith. Start with Road to Isengard, then break right to a left-facing corner. Climb the corner and a steep face and turn a roof to the top.
Will at the crux.
[Hide Photo] Will at the crux.
Dave getting the onsight!!!
[Hide Photo] Dave getting the onsight!!!

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

[Hide Comment] I climbed this last week and to me it felt a lot easier than 10c, maybe 10a. Apr 3, 2004
Jake Wyatt
Longmont, CO
 
[Hide Comment] The interesting move over the roof merits a star. Jul 4, 2004
Ron Olsen
Boulder, CO
  5.10a
[Hide Comment] The crux is moving right onto the slab under the roof; turning the roof past the final bolt is much easier. Beta: there's a good hold on the left edge of the roof; you just have to work high enough to reach it.

When you lower, leave the last bolt below the roof clipped if your partner is top-roping. This will keep the rope from running across a sharp edge on the roof should your partner fall at the crux. Jul 13, 2004
Ron Olsen
Boulder, CO
  5.10a
[Hide Comment] This route is "Minas TirEth" 10a on Richard Rossiter's website:
boulderclimbs.com/watermark… Aug 27, 2005
Gary Schmidt
Boulder, CO
[Hide Comment] Actually a fun little climb. And for what it is worth, I found the route probably also goes around 5.10a by staying on the left arete and up over the overhang. Jul 20, 2007
percious
Bear Creek, CO
  5.10a
[Hide Comment] Sort and suite. Very sequency at the crux. May 31, 2008
Robby Cribbs
Boulder, CO
 
[Hide Comment] The crux is very well-protected. Try the toe hook under the ledge to move into the crux move. Although it wasn't a tall climb, it was definitely a fun one. May 15, 2009
Joshua Kaiser
Boulder, CO
 
[Hide Comment] Beware of loose rock. A couple climbing this last night went a little further right than the route was intended and pulled down a pretty decent chunk of granite. Scared the @#$! out of me, but nobody was hurt. Aug 27, 2010
Paul-B
  5.10-
[Hide Comment] Fun route, but it really seemed to be a one (2?) move wonder. The roof is sequency and challenging, if you use the holds on the left face. I thought it was 10a, unfortunately, the rest of the climb is an easy 8 or less. Aug 11, 2012
Eric Klammer
Eagle, CO
  5.10a
[Hide Comment] Meh, 1 or 2 hard moves, and the rest is way easier. Overall okay route. Jun 3, 2013