The homepage only lists Goliath and Catdaddy as classic 13s. Since I have already fallen off those routes numerous times, I was wondering what are the favorite routes so that I can have more diversity in the routes from which I fall.

Hey Eric,

For best 13's around ABQ:
Sinister Dane 13b (Socorro) I thought this one was really good, with alot of variety.
Ride the Lightening 13b (Socorro) Has broken since I did it, the hold I used is no longer there. I've heard that other people used different beta. May not be quite as classic as others.
Mastadont, Survival of the Fittest, Native Rituals 13a-b(Diablo). Depending on your style you may like one of these. Native rituals being the most techy to Mastandont being the most powerful. All are about the same quality.
Loose Cannon, Death Drives A Stick 13b (Dungeon) Both are really hard but quite fun. Better routes than Dragonslayer IMO.

Cochiti Eagle Canyon, Handsome Parish Lady looks pretty awesome and was unaffected by the fire.

Outside of ABQ: The Shady side of the Tunnel has many sweet 13's. Jerk Off 13a is one that I thought was really fun. There are many other 13- that might not be quite as classic. Doug, Rebecca, Guchi, Pipsqueak.

The best place for 13's in NM is Last Chance. Anything in the Solstice Cave or on Mad Cow wall is likely to be pretty good. For Jug hauling check out the Solstice Cave (It put's the buff on, Infernal Justice) For more technical clean limestone see Mad Cow (Bubbles, Black Plague).

I've never climbed any of the harder routes at the Taos Bat Cave, but some of those may be good.

Also John Kear's route at the TorC Bat Cave was great. Talk to him to see if it's open yet.

A while back I made a graph attempting to compare the crux difficulty vs the Endurance Aspect of NM 13's. Gives an idea of how different routes stack up in difficulty at least.

Comparision of NM Routes Submitted By: DisturbingThePeace on Nov 19, 2012

That is an impressive list. What are your three favorite routes at that grade?

Sinister Dane - While not the world's greatest rock I really enjoyed the variety of movement and cruxes. Has both overhanging jug hauling and super technical.
Jerk Off - Good Rock with some cool tufa like holds, and a sweet power endurance sprint to the anchors. From the time you get to the first bolt, until the anchors it is on, with only one marginal rest.
Goliath - While the climbing is only good to me, the position and length make this one a classic.

Nice Graph DTP.

Didn't mean to kill this thread. Come on New Mexico what are your favorites?

I think there are some at gilman tunnels in jemez, but I climb no where near that level so your on your own, but the area is cool. mountainproject.com/v/gilman-tunnels/105847880

Edit to add: Cough (spray) cough!

In this day and age does climbing 5.13 even count as spray? Ondra's onsighting 14+ and kids are climbing 14 and V13. So while climbing 5.13 may be a great personal accomplishment it doesn't mean much in today's world of climbing.

It's not spray, it's just offensive to the weak willed mediocrity that we are!

How about this:

Ride the lightening sucks ass.

Cochiti mesa sucks too.

Solstice Cave is awesome as long as it does not fall down and the weather is ok, which is possibly and never.

I love the climbing in NM!


Actually, I am just flabbergasted that you have climbed so many routes so quickly, good job my man! Why am I so weak?

The real question is why not ask you dircetly what climb is best caus... I can tell when you are full of crap in person, and your chart is . . . too confusing for the weak minded like myself.


Me . . . I say which ever 5.13 you can get your fat ass up.

Was Jerk Off really that good? I want to know.

That is all.

I got a good laugh out of your Solstice Cave comment. I've been trying to get back down there this fall, but hurricane type winds are forecast for most of the time.

Jerk Off is good, but it's still only 3 stars. Climb it after someone else has already taken the time to brush it down. It's also only 35 ft tall with only 20 moves through the business. It's really similar in style to Mastadont, so if you liked that one, you may like it.

I feel the need to warn everyone about DTP's star system. You can usually subtract a minimum of one star from his suggestion for the average climber. The thing about DTP is that he is SO PSYCHED on climbing that as long as the literal fear of death wasn't instilled in him via the climb he would give it at least one star.

Also, Gilman Tunnels is a shit hole.

I am with DTP, no one is spraying. Would it be cool to ask what are the best 5.8s? Sure. No difference, just a different grade. Supposedly everyone in Spain climbs 5.14 so 13 is pretty weak sauce these days, but it happens to be the grade I am trying to break into. Funny how out of all the comments, he is the only one to actually write up routes that he likes. Maybe I am guilty of being psyched on climbing as well. This is a climbing website after all.
DTP, I tried Sinister Dane a couple times last year and will try it again when the temps cool. I just hope the whole roof doesn't fall down on top of me and my belayer. I was on Full Pen last weekend and that whole feature seems quite hollow. Anyway, thanks for the suggestions.

Nobody has mentioned Sitting Bull Falls?

Eric, you could always just jump off of every route you get on before you reach the anchor if you are really just looking for diversity in the routes you fall off of...

Unfortunately I seem to "jump off" whether I want to or not. Although I get lucky every once in a while and fall upward. That is an old school trick taught to me by Tom Gibson who used to slide up really steep slabs as he was falling off them. Takes some practice.