The Overlook  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Elevation:  6,400' Lat, Long:  35.8264, -106.1803 Map Page Views:  43,720. Good page?    Administrators:  Aaron Hobson, Jason Halladay, Anthony Stout, LeeAB Submitted By:  Jason Halladay on Apr 3, 2007 Make this area a Favorite What's New  Printer View Add Area  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event

Saw this on steepandcheap.com, 2/25/08. I wonder w...

Description 

An enjoyable basalt, mostly sport climbing crag that also offers some nice gear-protected crack climbs, the Overlook is generally regarded as the finest crag at White Rock.

There are two sides to the Overlook--a northwest aspect and a southeast aspect so climbing can be done year round. Warm winter days are awesome on the southeast side. Almost all climbs have bolted anchors, included the gear-protected crack climbs.

Most cracks were toproped in the 70s, with bolted routes put up in the 80s and no more new route potential really exists, although the original White Rock bolting agreement (1989) along with the amended agreement (2004) allows for new bolted face climbs to be established at the Overlook [per this agreement, establishing new bolted routes is not permitted at some of the other White Rock "trad" cliffs].

Although there are some new climbs in this area, the original guide to the Overlook by Samet & Jett has been shared thanks to the authors and the Los Alamos Mountaineers:
lamountaineers.org/Overlook/Overlook.pdf

Getting There 

From NM4, turn south on Rover Blvd. Turn left on the first street on your left, Meadow Lane. Stay on Meadow Lane for .8 mile or so and turn left at the well-signed Overlook Park. This park is loaded with soccer and baseball fields. Park at very end of the road at the round-about at the scenic Overlook view point. Follow the spiny, exposed ridge trail NE left the Overlook view point and descend to the next shelf. You'll be on top of the climbing cliff. A good climber's trail heads south (right) and down to the base of the southeast cliff on your left. The first bolted climb you'll find is Bosker Boozeroo.

The Classics

Featured Route For The Overlook

Cholla Wall 5.10a/b PG13  NM : Los Alamos & White Rock : ... : South/East side

One of the finer routes at The Overlook. A nicely pocketed, sustained face route. It is a very popular top-rope and a proud gear lead because of the tricky gear placements in pockets. By longtime, documented agreement by local climbers do not bolt this face route. The route gets its name from a Cholla cactus that used to be at the base of the route that pricked many climbers tha...[more]   Browse More Classics in NM