I have climbed Tomir about a dozen times over the least 5 years. Here are a few additions and corrections based on my observations.
First and most critically - while most people probably do Tomir as a round trip from Lluc, a small percentage do it as part of a Lluc/Pollensa traverse in either direction. You may have seen something written about traversing (from Pollensa to Lluc) Fartarix, Ca, and then Tomir in that order. This is effectively no longer possible as an essentially impassible fence has been put up in a critical section between Fartarix and Ca (actually between the Moleta sub peak and Ca).
What this means is that if you summit Tomir from Lluc (via either route listed in the article), what you need to do to get to Pollensa effectively is to go down the Pollensa side of Tomir to the col between Tomir and Ca. On the left (GR221) side of the Col, you need to find the trail marked with cairns and red dots that will take you 'under' Ca to the summer pasture/farm that is below Fartarix. From there, Fartarix is a possible side trip of about 1.5 hours. It is very difficult but not impossible to find the start of that cairn/red dot path if you are coming down from tomir - be ready for this and if possible get its coordinates on your satnav before you go.
Fartarix now becomes a side round trip under this arrangement, but is worth it if you can spare about 1.5 hours.
Some maps show a path from the trail i describe to a "pass de l'all" just below fartarix. I have tried to find this pass from the top but looked down from where it must have started from and found the descent suicidally steep looking. Maybe it wasn't (if i had the ability to see from the bottom it might look more benign), but I also suggest that unless somebody else weighs in with more definite information that the path from the bottom to the "pass" de l'all might not actually exist or might be a grade 2/3 scrambling route unsuitable for nearly all hikers. at the very least, if there is a route there, it must be on a very steep cliff face.
Finally, the second thing I want to add, and maybe I've just climbed it too many times, but I was a bit suprised to find terms like "chimney" and "alpine style" describing the normal climb up to Tomir from the Lluc side. Maybe I've just forgotten what its like to be relatively inexperienced, but this in my view is a relatively straightforward walk-up with only a bit of hands a feet scrambling required at points. That said, yes, the loose rock underfoot at times probably is a bit tricky in places, but this has been made substantially easier in recent years by the establishment of parallel / alternate paths in some formerly slightly tricky areas and by the fact that in many places the deep scree (loose rock) has simply been pushed away by hikers.
Always be fully prepared for the worst in any mountain you climb. While I noted that to me Tomir seems a bit easier than described here, this only applies to people with substantial climbing experience. Whoever you are, take plenty of water, use caution as there are plenty of fall and trip hazards, and always be prepared to turn back, especially if there is moisture on the rocks due to snow/rain/cloud as that can make things very difficult indeed.
Gangolf Haub - Oct 22, 2017 8:05 am - Hasn't voted
Re: A few updates October 2017
Thanks to you additions - I really appreciate them. Asfor the use of the word "chimney" - I know what you mean. But being German I wasn't able to find a better suiting word than "Kamin", which I litterally translated. On the other hand - what would be the correct English word?
And luckily - I can't be blamed for using "alpine" - I think people want to express their surprise at the ruggedness of Serra de Tramuntana, which you really wouldn't expect at that height.
FallingUp - Oct 13, 2017 3:33 am - Hasn't voted
A few updates October 2017I have climbed Tomir about a dozen times over the least 5 years. Here are a few additions and corrections based on my observations.
First and most critically - while most people probably do Tomir as a round trip from Lluc, a small percentage do it as part of a Lluc/Pollensa traverse in either direction. You may have seen something written about traversing (from Pollensa to Lluc) Fartarix, Ca, and then Tomir in that order. This is effectively no longer possible as an essentially impassible fence has been put up in a critical section between Fartarix and Ca (actually between the Moleta sub peak and Ca).
What this means is that if you summit Tomir from Lluc (via either route listed in the article), what you need to do to get to Pollensa effectively is to go down the Pollensa side of Tomir to the col between Tomir and Ca. On the left (GR221) side of the Col, you need to find the trail marked with cairns and red dots that will take you 'under' Ca to the summer pasture/farm that is below Fartarix. From there, Fartarix is a possible side trip of about 1.5 hours. It is very difficult but not impossible to find the start of that cairn/red dot path if you are coming down from tomir - be ready for this and if possible get its coordinates on your satnav before you go.
Fartarix now becomes a side round trip under this arrangement, but is worth it if you can spare about 1.5 hours.
Some maps show a path from the trail i describe to a "pass de l'all" just below fartarix. I have tried to find this pass from the top but looked down from where it must have started from and found the descent suicidally steep looking. Maybe it wasn't (if i had the ability to see from the bottom it might look more benign), but I also suggest that unless somebody else weighs in with more definite information that the path from the bottom to the "pass" de l'all might not actually exist or might be a grade 2/3 scrambling route unsuitable for nearly all hikers. at the very least, if there is a route there, it must be on a very steep cliff face.
Finally, the second thing I want to add, and maybe I've just climbed it too many times, but I was a bit suprised to find terms like "chimney" and "alpine style" describing the normal climb up to Tomir from the Lluc side. Maybe I've just forgotten what its like to be relatively inexperienced, but this in my view is a relatively straightforward walk-up with only a bit of hands a feet scrambling required at points. That said, yes, the loose rock underfoot at times probably is a bit tricky in places, but this has been made substantially easier in recent years by the establishment of parallel / alternate paths in some formerly slightly tricky areas and by the fact that in many places the deep scree (loose rock) has simply been pushed away by hikers.
Always be fully prepared for the worst in any mountain you climb. While I noted that to me Tomir seems a bit easier than described here, this only applies to people with substantial climbing experience. Whoever you are, take plenty of water, use caution as there are plenty of fall and trip hazards, and always be prepared to turn back, especially if there is moisture on the rocks due to snow/rain/cloud as that can make things very difficult indeed.
Gangolf Haub - Oct 22, 2017 8:05 am - Hasn't voted
Re: A few updates October 2017Thanks to you additions - I really appreciate them. Asfor the use of the word "chimney" - I know what you mean. But being German I wasn't able to find a better suiting word than "Kamin", which I litterally translated. On the other hand - what would be the correct English word?
And luckily - I can't be blamed for using "alpine" - I think people want to express their surprise at the ruggedness of Serra de Tramuntana, which you really wouldn't expect at that height.
bannus1967 - Jan 29, 2019 9:59 pm - Hasn't voted
Video impression of the climbVery nice and scenic climb, find a video impression here: https://youtu.be/D3h6028Dczs