The Overlook  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Elevation:  6,400' Lat, Long:  35.8264, -106.1803 Map Page Views:  55,756. Good page?    Administrators:  Aaron Hobson, Jason Halladay, Anthony Stout, LeeAB, Tom Erickson 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

Face Off 5.12a  NM : Los Alamos & White Rock : ... : South/East side

A fantastic steep, thin face route. For most it requires a sequence. Careful not to tweak your fingers on this one. The steep face is obvious with its chalk-marked, tiny holds. Scramble up easy rock to the high first bolt and move up to the second bolt as the rock starts to steepen. Pull past the thin flake holds to a good two-finger pocket next to the third bolt. More thin, steep moves lead past the fourth bolt. It's sustained all the way to the sixth bolt but above that you finally get to re...[more]   Browse More Classics in NM