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| Elevation: | 6,386 ft |
| GPS: |
35.5149, -108.8705 Google Map · Climbing Area Map |
| Page Views: | 108,973 total · 491/month |
| Shared By: | Anthony Stout on Jan 20, 2006 · Updates |
| Admins: | Jason Halladay, Mike Hoskins, Anna Brown |
Description
A fair to good (I'm describing both the quality of the sandstone and the routes here) sandstone crag with numerous single-pitch, well protected sport routes (from about 15-20 meters in length) ranging from 5.8 to 5.12a. Climbing here is year-round, and even on winter days warmth can be had when climbing in the sun. During the rainy season (July/August), you may want to check when the last storm occurred before making the trip from anywhere but local. When this sandstone becomes wet it is quite fragile. This means climbing when the rock has recently been wet can result in destroying the climbs. Local climbers ask that you wait about 48 hours following a heavy rainstorm before climbing.
Because of its distance from highly populated areas, when climbing here you'll typically only find locals. In Gallup the local climbers can be counted on one hand (well, depending on the season, sometimes you need two hands), so dont expect crowds!
AREA OVERVIEW PHOTO
https://www.mountainproject.com/photo/112183657
PDF GUIDE (posted with permission from author H. Scott Halliday)
http://tinyurl.com/mentmore-guide
Getting There
- GOOGLE MAP LINK: https://goo.gl/maps/tLTx77zi3KRzSVji8
- GPS COORDINATES: 35.514805, -108.869640
- Travel west on Route 66 (Hwy 118) .5 mile from Interstate 40 exit 16 in Gallup.
- Turn right (north) onto County Road 1 for about one mile, the road makes a sharp turn to the left (west) and becomes Mentmore Road.
- Take Mentmore Road about 1.5 miles up and over the hill. At the bottom of the hill the road turns sharply to the right. At this turn go straight through the open gate to the Mentmore Rock Climbing Area Parking Lot.
Accommodations
One option is one of the numerous cheap hotels in Gallup (but be careful if you do this, there are some sketchy looking ones as well).
Some have also stayed right there at the crag. It's not the greatest environment but I have never heard of anyone being harassed. Don't be too surprised though, if someone comes in to an illegally dumped pile of trash. Gunfire in the background is also quite common as locals use nearby areas for target practice.
The best option for camping is, as written in one of the comments below, to stay in the McGaffey forest just east of Gallup. From Mentmore, get back onto I-40 and head east. Drive back through Gallup and then about 10 minutes east of Gallup take the McGaffey exit. Turn south and continue driving past Fort Wingate. When you get into the forest there are plenty of roads to turn off onto that provide great primitive camping in a beautiful ponderosa forest. Forest roads are closed during winter months. The Quaking Aspen and McGaffey campgrounds are also available as you go south along NM-400 into McGaffey.
Mountain Biking
Classic Climbing Routes at Mentmore
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