Tombstone  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Page Views:  2,630. Good page?    Administrators:  Aaron Hobson, Jason Halladay, Anthony Stout, LeeAB, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  Bill Lawry on Sep 1, 2007 Make this area a Favorite What's New   Print a Mini-Guide with routes Add Route  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event

The proud west facing Tombstone.

Description 

The Tombstone, true to its name, stands isolated. Most routes are on the face which looks west and so summer climbs in the morning can be cool if the wind picks up.

On the west face of Tombstone, the established routes are two pitches; of these, the upper pitches tend to use around 40 meters of rope.

Getting There 

Approach as described for Pinnacle Valley. Stop at the first significant view down the valley. The back side of Tombstone should be visible almost directly below and appears as a vegetated ramp. Find a way down through the limestone band to a steep trail. Gravel covers many parts of this trail - for slipping on and/or setting loose on your partner(s) below. The gravel lets up as one approaches the top of Tombstone. Continue descending just to the skier's left (south) of Tombstone to access most routes.

Of the three or four times I have returned from Tombstone, in all cases I have returned up a different way than I came down. Props to you if you manage to make the round trip on the same path!

The Classics

Featured Route For Tombstone

Southwest Corner Direct 5.8 PG13  NM : Sandia Mountains : ... : Tombstone

Pitch 1: Start up pitch 1 of the West Face Traverse. Belay on the Southwest end of the large ledge that typically begins the traverse for pitch 1 of the West Face Traverse. Pitch 2: Head up trending right from the belay toward a bush 20-30 ft above (runout) Once you reach the bush set some much needed protection and continue to trend right toward an obvious chimney that is the (well protected) crux of the climb. Once atop the chimney continue on easy ground to the summit and set the belay....[more]   Browse More Classics in NM

Photos of Tombstone Slideshow

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The Tombstone and the Knifeblade

BETA PHOTO: Tombstone from the SW Ridge of Needle.