This is a fragile alpine bouldering area and following Leave No Trace principles is important. Never stash pads. Do not alter landings, chip or glue holds, or remove or alter vegetation. Walk on hard surfaces such as boulders or established trails. Store your gear on boulders instead of dirt or vegetation. Clean up spilled chalk and tick marks and brush holds. Keep your presence low key and unobtrusive. Pack out everything you brought and anything else that shouldn't have been left there. RMNP rangers are very aware of the impact that bouldering has on this environment.
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
This is the amazing arete on the right side of the boulder can't miss it.
Sit start low and go right hand to a small crimp, from there follow good holds to a shelf, then bust out the crux and top 'er. Watch out for the rock behind you.
[Hide Photo] Danny Baker: Tommy's Arete. Photo credit: Dan Moncur.
[Hide Photo] Danny Baker: Tommy's Arete. Photo credit: Dan Moncur.
[Hide Photo] Danny Baker: Tommy's Arete. Photo credit: Dan Moncur.
[Hide Photo] Danny Baker: Tommy's Arete. The crux, I would say, was sidepull crimp to next move knowing you could fall wrong. Photo credit: Dan Moncur.
[Hide Photo] Jerad Friedrichs on Tommy's Arete. A bit blurry.
[Hide Comment] Did a variation of this problem today that eliminates all use of the arete, via using some of the holds on Automator and stemming in the shallow dihedral. It's called Tom's Arete.
Sep 12, 2009
[Hide Comment] There's a fun variation on this climb starting on Tommy's, then at the huge rubber covered ledge it moves out right to nice crimps and a big lock off to the top. V5?
Sep 21, 2013
[Hide Comment] Really amazing problem, must do! Please be careful to practice Leave No Trace, as every time I've been to this boulder, there's been a plethora of bar wrappers, tape trash, and tick marks.
Jul 19, 2018
Denver
Denver, CO
youtube.com/watch?v=BQHfEwn… Nov 18, 2017
Ames, IA
Knoxville, TN
Draper
Flagstaff, AZ