-
Sugarite Climbing
Mark and Kate pull in after dark, and in the morning we haul our gear up Little Horse Mesa for some warm, sunny, blissful late summer climbing. I lead all the routes we climbed on toprope on our last trip here, and a couple more. It all feels easy and good, and it’s great hanging…
-
Sugarite Opportunity Trail
We arrive at Soda Pocket Campground in Sugarite State Park around 4 pm, and I’m feeling energetic, so I take off from our campsite on the Opportunity Trail. It’s a nice tour of the upper park. I’m greeted by wild turkeys in the Gambel oaks, then pleasant Ponderosa groves on the descent to Maloya Lake.…
-
Comales Canyon
It’s our first visit to this small climbing area in Carson National Forest. We find a nice place to park the camper among some aspen by the Comales Canyon trailhead. The canyon has a number of quartz-rich granite walls on the east side, of which one small steep and easily accessed wall has been developed…
-
Pecos River Canyon
We had neglected this area in the back of our book, so we decide to go investigate it. Not sure how much time we have, we go for the main crag right on the road. I’m surprised how good this little granite playground is! Routes: Rejuvenating Facial 5.9+ A slopey lieback right off the ground…
-
Gallows Edge Climbing
Sean is here! We’re eager to show him some picturesque desert climbing, so we take him to the Gallow’s Edge (friendlier than it sounds!), a cliff overlooking the Rio Grande outside of White Rock. It’s a clear day, just a little too hot in the sun. We find the climbing is fine if we can…
-
Magote Peak CDT Revisitation
A little impulsively, I decide to revisit a remote section of the Continental Divide Trail in northern New Mexico for an overnight hike. The weather cooperates fully, but my navigation leaves something to be desired. Slides: To begin with I follow the new official route from Highway 84, which we didn’t take in 2004, opting…
-
El Rito Trad Day
The forecast is for a 50-60% chance of rain all weekend, so we do our best to start early when see clear skies in the morning. This is our first time to the traditional area at El Rito. It appears to be used far more lightly than the sport area. The approach from the forest…
-
Atalaya / Picacho Loop Hike
Tom and I both have physical problems today, so he proposes a shorter hike in his local stomping grounds. His knee has been acting up, and I have a cactus wound on my ankle that’s inflamed. We’re happy to manage this hike, during which Tom takes me to all the best viewpoints and relates local…
-
Cerro Grande Hike
We stay parked at Las Conchas by the Cattle Call Wall for a stormy, rainy night. A few other wayward souls see us there and join us, and in the morning a variety of breakfasts are cooked by the fence. After eating our burrito bowls Ann chooses a hike for the day up Cerro Grande.…
-
Gilman Tunnels Climbing Attempt
Will this be our last time repeating this mistake? I hope so. We head to a new area in the camper, at night, after a birthday dinner. The Gilman tunnels are remnants from a narrow gauge railroad that burrowed through the steep canyon walls of the Guadalupe Box. It’s an ominous looking place in the…