This is the first time we’ve had any serious car trouble out in the boonies. We head up US285, then east on NM567, and finally up a small forest road. We’d like to find a good group campsite for the memorial day weekend, but it’s getting dark and we decide to settle in for the…

At last I get some routes in at this intriguing climbing area! During the blizzardy weather on our last trip we only scouted the pocket-strewn routes, so I was eager to pull on some of those pockets. Friday night is warm and tantalizing, but Saturday brings light showers. Determined not to miss any window, we…

We take Mom out to Diablo Canyon. I lead Post Moderate 5.9, which is long enough at 165 ft to challenge my stamina. As I did before, I blow the two-rope logistics and have (or get) to climb to the top again after failing to lower. I need to use more visualization techniques – not…

We planned our Petaca Point hike with hopes that conditions would be good for climbing at nearby Dead Cholla Wall, and they are perfect. We join one other couple, also easing back into climbing after a hiatus, to try some top roping here. As is often the case, reaching over the cliff edge to clip…

No one had ever mentioned this climbing area to us, but in our book it looked like a good place to continue our gentle return to climbing. It’s perfect! The Waterfall Wall has an array of “easy” topropes right next to the parking area, and the weather warms up just for the weekend. Climbing still…

Just as Ann was getting back into the swing of hiking, I decided to rest my knee, which has been hard for both of us. But we think we might each be able to manage some easy climbing, so we make our way to the friendly and accessible White Rock Overlook area. The weather smiles…

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…

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…

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…

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…