Dead Cholla Wall

Great views of the Taos area Sangres. [[Vallecito ...

Description 

Lots of sun early as the crag faces East. Plenty of shade later. It can get a little chilly on nights in the winter. Most of the routes have chains at the top which can be reached to set up top ropes. Many fantastic lines are on this quality wall. A great mix of splitters and sport climbs as well. Almost all the routes are in the 10-12 range.

Getting There 

From the south side of town, drive south on 68 to Pilar, please watch your speed in town. Turn north west at Pilar toward the campgrounds of Orilla Verde Recreation area and drive over the bridge across the Rio Grande and up the other side of the gorge. Once you hit the paved road, take your 1st right that will take you over to the trailhead to park. Then hike down about 300 yards and you will be over the top of the crag.

From the North side of town, take 64 toward Tres Piedras. Just after you cross the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge and the rest area on the left, take your first left, 115. This road can be a washboard of tooth-rattling madness, so it could take awhile to drive the 10 miles to the paved road. Once on the paved road, continue south and look to the left for the turn off to the trailhead. If the pavement ends, just turn around and take your first right. The parking area can be seen for the sat shot.

Guide Service - Mountain Skills http://climbingschoolusa.com/index.html

Climbs (Left to Right) 

Where are the Bolts 5.11a (trad)
Kissing Fish 5.9 (trad)
Jam Time 5.10b (trad)
Bob..it 5.11c (mixed bolts+gear)
Blind Faith 5.10+ (sport)
Queso's Delight 5.12- (trad)
Lava Flows 5.11a (sport)
Open Season 5.10c (mixed bolts+gear)
Cholla Backstep 5.11 (trad)
Hageemoto 5.11+ (sport)
Merge Left 5.11 (sport)
Gorge Yourself 5.10+ (mixed bolts+gear)
Just Arose 5.11 (sport)
After the Pillar Came Down 5.10b/c (trad)
Toxic Socks 5.12- (sport)
Special Ed 5.11+ (sport)
Drift Away 5.11a (mixed bolts+gear)
Fun 5.7 (mixed bolts+gear)
Games 5.10+ (sport)
One for the Book 5.8+ (trad)
Corrida del Norte 5.11 (sport)
Back to the Creek 5.11a/b (mixed bolts+gear)
Liquid Skin 5.12a (mixed bolts+gear)
No Lines 5.10+ (mixed bolts+gear)
No Waiting 5.11 (sport)
Connected 5.9 (mixed bolts+gear)
Re-Connected 5.12- (mixed bolts+gear)
Festival sin Peliculas 5.10b (trad)
Twisted Feet 5.11a (sport)
Waiting for the Sun 5.11a (sport)
Doc's Dangle 5.10b/c (sport)
Somebody Loaned Me a Bosch 5.11a (sport)
Nice 5.9+ (mixed bolts+gear)
Either Or 5.11 (sport)
Unnamed 5.8 (trad)
Esmerelda 5.11 (sport)
Leave It To Bob 5.12a/b (mixed bolts+gear)

The Classics

Featured Route For Dead Cholla Wall

Esmerelda 5.11  NM : Taos Area : Dead Cholla Wall

A super quality arête route! Clip a very well-placed bolt just over the roof at the blocky start before going into the thin, technical crux of the route getting up to, and past, the second bolt. Then enjoy super fun face and arête climbing to the anchor. The route steepens near the top but the hold are very juggy making for some great position and moves. ...[more]   Browse More Classics in NM