Original Side  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Lat, Long:  35.5163, -108.873 Map Page Views:  10,408. Good page?    Administrators:  Aaron Hobson, Jason Halladay, Anthony Stout, LeeAB, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  Anthony Stout on May 21, 2006 Make this area a Favorite What's New  Printer View Add Area  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event

BETA PHOTO: Photo-topo of the original side.

Description 

This is the original Mentmore. The area that allured the original pioneers of the area to start drilling bolts. Has a great selection of climbs ranging from 5.8 to 5.12a. Enjoy! Walls are numbered from left to right, starting on the far left side of the climbing area by the railroad tracks. When following the trail, however, you will typically end up near between (04) Benny Silva Wall, and (05) Health Wall. Both of these walls have a nice variety of climbs on them.

Getting There 

Once to the parking area, look for a break on the North side of the lot through the fence. Follow the trail down through the arroyo, past some big ugly signs that the city put up, and to the crag. Pretty difficult to miss. There is also a newer trail that has been more recently been developed that can be used if the arroyo is full of water. This trail starts on the west side of parking area just left of a large wooden information sign. Of course, this used to be a nice sign, but there are certain sects of Gallup locals who prefer not to have anything nice and decorate things like this with bullet holes.

The Classics

Featured Route For Original Side

Muy Enfermo 5.10c  NM : Gallup Area : ... : (03) Bivi Wall/Swallow Wall

One of the most popular routes at Mentmore, and all the more so since it was accorded "area classic" status in Falcon Press's 'Rock Climbing New Mexico". This IS an excellent route: steep and sustained, with interesting movement throughout on a variety of hold types. For the full effect, stay on the boltline; moving right to rest on lower-angled terrain makes it significantly easier. This route suffers a bit from loose and crumbly rock, however. Be careful not to bean the belayer. ...[more]   Browse More Classics in NM