Tombstone  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Page Views:  2,582. Good page?    Administrators:  Aaron Hobson, Jason Halladay, Anthony Stout, LeeAB, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  Bill Lawry on Sep 1, 2007 Make this area a Favorite What's New   Print a Mini-Guide with routes Add Route  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event

The proud west facing Tombstone.

Description 

The Tombstone, true to its name, stands isolated. Most routes are on the face which looks west and so summer climbs in the morning can be cool if the wind picks up.

On the west face of Tombstone, the established routes are two pitches; of these, the upper pitches tend to use around 40 meters of rope.

Getting There 

Approach as described for Pinnacle Valley. Stop at the first significant view down the valley. The back side of Tombstone should be visible almost directly below and appears as a vegetated ramp. Find a way down through the limestone band to a steep trail. Gravel covers many parts of this trail - for slipping on and/or setting loose on your partner(s) below. The gravel lets up as one approaches the top of Tombstone. Continue descending just to the skier's left (south) of Tombstone to access most routes.

Of the three or four times I have returned from Tombstone, in all cases I have returned up a different way than I came down. Props to you if you manage to make the round trip on the same path!

The Classics

Featured Route For Tombstone

West Face Direct 5.8  NM : Sandia Mountains : ... : Tombstone

This line is described in Hill's (1983:109-111) "Hikers and Climbers Guide to the Sandias" (I'm working with the 2nd edition; I haven't seen if this description has changed in the 3rd edition). Schein's (2003:75) "Sandia Rock" describes a slightly different second pitch. I followed Schein's line, so I can't comment on Hill's full route.Pitch 1: From the top of the pillar that marks the base of the climb, pull through some face moves that immediately get your attention, to gain a crac...[more]   Browse More Classics in NM

Photos of Tombstone Slideshow

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The Tombstone and the Knifeblade

BETA PHOTO: Tombstone from the SW Ridge of Needle.