Gemstone West  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Elevation:  8,000' Page Views:  4,571. Good page?    Administrators:  Aaron Hobson, Jason Halladay, Anthony Stout, LeeAB, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  Monomaniac on May 7, 2007 Make this area a Favorite What's New   Print a Mini-Guide with routes Add Route  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event

Gemstone West. The crag's centerpiece route, the ...

Description 

This excellent crag offers numerous slab and crack climbs. This is a popular area for first-timers and large groups, due to the apparent low-commitment. These routes are generally devoid of loose rock, and offer a great variety of difficulty and techniques.

Getting There 

Begin at the La Cueva picnic ground. From the outhouse, walk 50 feet south on the paved road to the first parking space on the E side of the road. Pick up a trail heading E from the parking space. This trail joins the "Tramway Trail" after 200 yds. Head N (left) on the Tramway Trail for about 200yds. Just before the trail enters the La Cuevae Canyon river bottom, there is a brown wooden post on the left that identifies the Tramway Trail. Head E at this junction on a good trail into La Cueva Canyon. You will cross numerous slabs, but stay on the S (rt) side of the river for the first 5 minutes or so. The trail is always good, so you shouldn't be bushwhacking, but occasionally the trail disappears as it crosses open slabs.

Eventually the trail crosses the river. Continue on the N side of the river to a point where many large boulders have recently fallen to the canyon bottom. At this point some easy scrambling over boulders is required. At the top of this talus field, Flake n Bake will appear on the left (N). Coninue E another 50 feet, along the N side of the creek, then follow the canyon as it snakes hard to the left (N). After heading N for 50 feet, the trail heads back toward the creek through thick brush. Duck under a massive boulder and cross the crick (if you were born near Datil, or creek if you were born elsewhere). You are now on the E side of the creek. Head S for 10 feet, then turn back to the E and head up a small slab. Traverse right along the top of the slab, then pick up a steep but good climbers trail that switches back up the rounded ridge. Continue towards the "Aid Boulder" (see photo) -- a steep short overhanging boulder with some old aid relics and bolts. Once at the boulder, traverse E below the Gemstone slabs.

The Classics

Featured Route For Gemstone West

Christian Crack 5.6  NM : Sandia Mountains : ... : Gemstone West

Start from the top of Flail Out or the top of the 1st pitch of Gemstone. Work your way up the crack to where it pinches down (crux) just below a large chockstone. Work up past the chockstone to bolted anchors shared with Gemstone route. Double rope rap with 60 meter ropes gets you to the ground.The rating of 5.6 comes from Barry and Rita Loucks' guide. I felt like the crux was more like 5.7, albeit only a couple moves. ...[more]   Browse More Classics in NM

Photos of Gemstone West Slideshow

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Unknown party on Gemstone on 6 May 07	BETA PHOTO: Alongside the route Gemstone are some lesser known...	Howard Snell enjoying the day.