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Elevation: 6,386 ft 1,946 m
GPS: 35.5149, -108.8705
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 109,194 total · 475/month
Shared By: Anthony Stout on Jan 20, 2006 · Updates
Admins: Jason Halladay, Mike Hoskins, Anna Brown

Description Suggest change

A fair to good (I'm describing both the quality of the sandstone and the routes here) sandstone crag with numerous single-pitch, well protected sport routes (from about 15-20 meters in length) ranging from 5.8 to 5.12a. Climbing here is year-round, and even on winter days warmth can be had when climbing in the sun. During the rainy season (July/August), you may want to check when the last storm occurred before making the trip from anywhere but local. When this sandstone becomes wet it is quite fragile. This means climbing when the rock has recently been wet can result in destroying the climbs. Local climbers ask that you wait about 48 hours following a heavy rainstorm before climbing.

Because of its distance from highly populated areas, when climbing here you'll typically only find locals. In Gallup the local climbers can be counted on one hand (well, depending on the season, sometimes you need two hands), so don’t expect crowds!

AREA OVERVIEW PHOTO
https://www.mountainproject.com/photo/112183657

PDF GUIDE (posted with permission from author H. Scott Halliday)
http://tinyurl.com/mentmore-guide

Getting There Suggest change

  • GOOGLE MAP LINK: https://goo.gl/maps/tLTx77zi3KRzSVji8
  • GPS COORDINATES: 35.514805, -108.869640
  • Travel west on Route 66 (Hwy 118) .5 mile from Interstate 40 exit 16 in Gallup.
  • Turn right (north) onto County Road 1 for about one mile, the road makes a sharp turn to the left (west) and becomes Mentmore Road.
  • Take Mentmore Road about 1.5 miles up and over the hill. At the bottom of the hill the road turns sharply to the right. At this turn go straight through the open gate to the Mentmore Rock Climbing Area Parking Lot.

Accommodations

Suggest change
A common question about climbing at Mentmore is: Where do I stay?

One option is one of the numerous cheap hotels in Gallup (but be careful if you do this, there are some sketchy looking ones as well).

Some have also stayed right there at the crag. It's not the greatest environment but I have never heard of anyone being harassed. Don't be too surprised though, if someone comes in to an illegally dumped pile of trash. Gunfire in the background is also quite common as locals use nearby areas for target practice.

The best option for camping is, as written in one of the comments below, to stay in the McGaffey forest just east of Gallup. From Mentmore, get back onto I-40 and head east. Drive back through Gallup and then about 10 minutes east of Gallup take the McGaffey exit. Turn south and continue driving past Fort Wingate. When you get into the forest there are plenty of roads to turn off onto that provide great primitive camping in a beautiful ponderosa forest. Forest roads are closed during winter months. The Quaking Aspen and McGaffey campgrounds are also available as you go south along NM-400 into McGaffey.

Mountain Biking

Suggest change
If you just happened to bring a mountain bike, there is really great mountain biking in the forest around McGaffey. The High Desert Trail system just east of Mentmore also offers some great mountain biking!

98 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

Location: Mentmore Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at Mentmore

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 31
Big Blobs of Love
Sport, TR
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 20
Looking for Daniel
Sport, TR
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 18
Ego Terrorists
Sport
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 21
May Cause Health Problems
Trad
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 22
Magnum cum Masochist
Sport, TR
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 24
Inner Sanctum
Sport, TR
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b
 23
Hookymaster General
Sport, TR
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 17
Cameron's Coming
Sport
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 26
Flakes Don't Fail Me Now
Sport
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 12
Muy Enfermo
Sport, TR
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 31
Not Suitable for Pregnant Women
Sport
5.11c/d 7a 24 VIII 25 E4 6a
 6
Sink or Swim
Sport
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
 6
Smegma Deluxe
Sport
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
 5
Docile Dragon
Sport
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
 4
Shattered
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Big Blobs of Love Original Side > (04) Benny Silva Wall
 31
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport, TR
Looking for Daniel Original Side > (02) Slab Wall
 20
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport, TR
Ego Terrorists New Side > (04) The Balcony
 18
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport
May Cause Health Problems Original Side > (05) Health Wall
 21
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad
Magnum cum Masochist Original Side > (05) Health Wall
 22
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport, TR
Inner Sanctum Original Side > (05) Health Wall
 24
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport, TR
Hookymaster General Original Side > (03) Bivi Wall/Swallo…
 23
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b Sport, TR
Cameron's Coming New Side > (02) The Corridor
 17
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport
Flakes Don't Fail Me Now New Side > (03) Wall of Dreams
 26
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport
Muy Enfermo Original Side > (03) Bivi Wall/Swallo…
 12
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport, TR
Not Suitable for Pregnant W… Original Side > (05) Health Wall
 31
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Sport
Sink or Swim New Side > (03) Wall of Dreams
 6
5.11c/d 7a 24 VIII 25 E4 6a Sport
Smegma Deluxe Original Side > (05) Health Wall
 6
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Sport
Docile Dragon New Side > (02) The Corridor
 5
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Sport
Shattered New Side > Monolith
 4
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b Sport
More Classic Climbs in Mentmore »

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