The Dome is an out-of-the-way, lesser-known crag overlooking the marsh that feeds Round Pond.... It has a few fun and varied routes and better friction than the popular crags due to the fact that it sees less traffic.... The fact that it gets more sun and usually a slight breeze means it dries quickly and gets fewer bugs than the deep dark crags below....
The crag is guarded by a steep, uphill jaunt that will keep most large groups at bay.... There is a good-sized dropoff from the ledge where the routes start which is also a good reason to keep large groups away....
Mostly a top roping area, there are a few sturdy trees right where you would want them at the top. You can hike around to them and drop your lines.... Many variations can be climbed on a single rope.... I don't know if the routes have proper names, but there are a few challenging but still beginner routes up the middle of the face.... A nice, short crack on the left that might be 5.7ish and another angling crack on the right that is the start to the easies line up the cliff....
If anyone knows specific route info please post it....
Be sure to respect this area when you visit it.... It has not been used and abused like many of the other spots in the park and it would be nice to keep it hat way....
Getting There
The trail is somewhat hard to find...but basically if you are hiking from the lower slab, you hike along the marsh until you are almost to the boulder natural area.... Look for a faint trail on the right heading up the hill...it curves its way through the woods over some logs and finally to the base of the dome....
The Classics
Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for The Dome:
Another totally over looked and over due problem! I've been looking at it for years and just got around to cleaning it today. It climbs every bit as well as i thought it would.It's a 20ft traverse to a top out but it makes upward progress with the slope of hill it's on so you are moving upward which feels nice. A steep wall with good feet (rare for Pway) and a mix of jugs and crimps with a sloper thrown in for spice. Start on the nice ledge jug down and right under the overhanging wall. Climb a ...[more]Browse More Classics in NH
If you are hiking from the boulder natural area, look at the white blazes on your right side. One of them has a "D" carved into it, and on your left you'll see the faint trail that Lee mentioned.
This area can also be reached from the Ridgeline area (The Good Book, Finger Crack, etc) by just continuing right. There is a faint trail. The climbs are all part of the same broken cliff band.
As a change of scenery I really recommend this area. It's higher up so gets the wind and is relatively less buggy. Probably has some of the tallest climbs in the park too. And a nice view form the top.
I was climbing here this weekend and noticed a fair amount of wasp activity. Climbers should we weary of the second half of the climb. Most of the action seemed to be right around the pine tree on the slab.
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