Welcome to the New Mexico section of Mountain Project!
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BETA PHOTO: Cockscomb crag area overview.
Courtesy of Rick Br...
Description
An area off the beaten path, with closely grouped routes in two different sections. An excellent selection of moderate climbs (5.10-5.11) on beautiful basalt. Routes here have nice springer anchors, allowing the last climber to easily lower off by just clipping through the shuts. However, please avoid premature anchor wear by using quick draws until the last person climbs the route.
The crag gets afternoon shade in the summer time. Since sun hits it until noon, however, this area may be pretty warm in mid summer. Best time is probably March through May and September through November. Not a winter crag, as little sun hits the rock from December to February.
Getting There
The Cockscomb Crag area about a mile down the main arroyo from Diablo Canyon. The name comes from the basalt pillars at the far right end of the crag, which resemble the top of a roosters head There are two ways to get to there:
1) Best Approach: "drive past the normal Diablo turnoff and continue around the Sun Devil Mesa and on toward the Rio Grande. After you pass a pump station just off the road on your left, continue about 0.3 miles to the first crossroad that goes in both directions. Turn left, follow the road to another pump station (~100 yards), and park on the CCC side of the station. Walk down into the arroyo that runs behind the station and follow it (under or over the barbed wire fence) toward the main Diablo arroyo (the fence marks entry into National Forest from BLM land). Cross the main arroyo to a prominent wash on the other side. The trail starts up this wash then veers right onto a well worn and cairned trail all the way to the crag. Car to crag will take 20 to 45 minutes, depending on if you are superhuman or more normal(R. Bradshaw)."
2) (Not recommended, will take a lot longer than #1): From the main Diablo climbing area (the one where you see the large, looming sundevil wall), hike the main wash through the sand for about 1.5 miles. Eventually you will see the cockscomb crag high up and to your left. Look for the trail from the river bottom that heads up to the crag.
This is an excellent crag. It seems the rock here is much better that most of the rock at Diablo (except for the 'upper tier' routes). The ultra-convenient lowering anchors are also a huge plus. The hike isn't nearly as bad as it sounds. Its a bit long, but its not very steep by climber's trail standards. If only the routes were twice as long!
When I was here in mid-May the crag was in the sun until a bit after noon. It was blazing hot until the sun arrived. There are a few routes that get shade before the main cliff gets shade, but not enough to keep you occupied. I would plan to arrive here around 11:30 am in the summer.
I would like to express my thanks to everyone who was involved with putting up these routes. The clippy hangers are suuuuuuper sweet and all the bolting seems to be well thought out.
Cockscomb Crag
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