Mountain Project Logo

Moving from Boulder, CO to Las Cruces NM

Original Post
kennyp · · Vegas · Joined Apr 2010 · Points: 75

(I have this posted in the NM/AZ board but haven't gotten any responses, so trying my luck over here). I'll most likely be moving there for graduate school in August. What am I in for? It looks like there is some climbing in the organs and it seems like hueco is a viable weekend spot. Any information is helpful, thanks.

Bill M · · Fort Collins, CO · Joined Jun 2010 · Points: 317

Organs has great climbing, some of the best trad in the state. You pay for it with long approaches through brutal desert. The much better known Cochise Stronghold is only a few hours away as well.

Charles Vernon · · Colorado megalopolis · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 2,655

Yes, the Organs are great if you don't mind hiking.

There's a number of scrappy local areas close by: La Cueva, Pena Blanca, and my personal favorite choss-pile the Rough and Readies.

Hueco is close enough for a day trip and has some good roped climbing in addition to the bouldering.

The Tunnel (pretty good limestone sport, never climbed there myself) is a day-trip. There are various scrappy areas up I-25 that are close enough for a day trip.

There are (at least) 3 very high-quality areas within a very reasonable distance for a weekend or day and a half kind of thing: Cochise Stronghold (long trad and sport), Enchanted Tower (sport), and the Sandias (mostly long trad).

You may be disappointed by the quality after coming from Boulder, but the quanity is greater than you think and you won't be disappointed by the lack of crowds at a lot of these places (Hueco and the Tower excepted).

kennyp · · Vegas · Joined Apr 2010 · Points: 75

Awesome thank's for the replies. How about the town of las cruces itself, what am I in for interms of the town itself? Is there much to do, cool people, scorching temperatures, great mexican food...?

Nick Dolecek · · Denver, Colorado · Joined Jan 2007 · Points: 0

Hey Kenny,
las cruces is a neat town, with tons of good granite. The approaches are fucking brutal, but the routes are full value alpine style, and with a dusting of snow look very reminescent of patagonia. There is also a lot of craggin around, and if you are willing to drive a few hours you can hit up a lot of different kinds of rock.
I never lived in cruces, but have worked all over the state and spent a lot of time in close proximity to there. I was always impressed by how clean and happening that town was.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Colorado
Post a Reply to "Moving from Boulder, CO to Las Cruces NM"

Log In to Reply

Join the Community

Create your FREE account today!
Already have an account? Login to close this notice.

Get Started.