Hoping to try climbing in the Sandias this weekend.
Does anyone have any camping recommendations up on, or near, the Crest?
I spoke with a Cibola Nat. Forest person over the phone who cautioned against camping up there because of vandalism/burglary. I'm hoping this isn't a bigger issue here than anywhere else, but does anyone have a sense of this issue?
Thanks!
Scott

Just don't keep anything in your car and if you have a nice car you better hope there is nothing worth stealing on it. It always amazes me on how bold the thieves are up there. I was climbing up there three weeks ago and when we got back to the car we noticed a car with broken glass. As we headed down the road we saw a purse on the side of the road. We stopped and grabbed it (thinking that someone put i on top of their car and drove off) and when we looked inside all that was in it was glass and makeup. Break-ins are just a common occurrence up there and with the warmer temps up there I would expect it to get worse.

Drag!
Thanks VERY much for the heads-up, though.
I hope it's safe to leave a vehicle for the day at the visitor's center, but it sounds like we better not camp up there.
I appreciate the info.

I leave my car up there everytime I climb in the upper part of the Sandias. I am just very careful with what I leave visible in the car. There is usually enough people around during the day that it seems like the thieves are just looking for the smash and grab. Night time is just hard due to the ranger will not be around and there are very few people up there at night.

I believe that unless you are "backpacking", camping is not allowed in the Sandias. Notice how there are no campgrounds in the range ....
At least, that was how it was last time I checked, but that was a long time ago. I'm surprised a FS employee told you anything different. Perhaps things have changed.

As for break-ins, in 22 years of climbing up there, the only time I've had a smash and go was when X-Skiing and then we where parked in a little used area.

As stated, parking in the upper lots will reduce your chance of a break in.

I don't know that the Sandias are any worse than any other FS parking lot near a large city.

Only place I've camped up there was right on top of South Sandia Peak. Camping on the summit of a high point can have "shocking" drawbacks however, if you are one that doesn't like to chance it then you can camp in this beautiful meadow about 1/4 mile or so north of the South Peak and just east of the ridge. Camping in this area puts you right on top of the south buttress. I don't know of any place to camp on the north end, but it's been years since I've been up there.
I had someone drop me off and pick me up a few days later in order to avoid leaving a car there. You might wanna check with rangers to make sure camping, stoves, etc is permitted. Good luck!

Ive asked about camping on the crest and was told by forest service employees that if your willing to leave your car there, you can camp anywhere out of sight around 50-100' or more off the trails, 200' away from all water and 200' away from the picnic areas. Its forest land and yours to enjoy. As long as you have two day permits on your dash covering your overnight stay and your out of sight , you should be golden.

Last summer, a friend and I camped on the western slope at a pulloff near lower la cueva canyon. The next morning a cop came and asked what we were doing. We said we had gotten in late and crashed at the first opportunity. He made some radio calls and confirmed that as long as our tents were out of sight, we were legal. He warned us of thieves and miscreants and told us to be on guard. Later we went to the forest station and they told us vandalism and some other bad shit had happened (like murder i think)on the west side, but the top crest parking lots were fairly safe just because they were so far out of the way.

Thanks for that info.
I think we're going to risk leaving our 'beater' car at the visitor's station on top, and drop down in to camp and climb for a couple days.
Thinking about the Thumb and maybe some other Upper La Cueva moderates.
We'll not leave anything in the car, maybe even leave the doors unlocked, and hope for the best...
I appreciate all the responses!

There is a really nice place to camp on top of Muralle Grande. The top pitches of Second Coming are very fun.

You could just ride the tram up from the ABQ side. I used to dirtbag it around the mountain overnight a lot a few years ago and found that it's kind of a hot spot for drunk kids from ABQ at night, especially on summer weekends.

Just be sure to bring PLENTY of water because you probably won't find any in your travels around the mountain. And for the same reason you might want to choose a camp stove over a campfire. There's a helluva lot of REALLY dead/dry wood up there.

Have a blast:)