PRINT: Rock Climbing in Vaudeville, El Rito

Vaudeville

New Mexico > El Rito > Little River Wall

Access Issue: Seasonal Raptor Nesting Warning Details

Season Raptor Nesting
This climbing area is shared with raptors that nest on the cliffs. Help us maintain access and please avoid climbing near active nests/ledges that raptors are using. If a raptor is disturbed during nesting season it may exhibit aggressive defensive behaviors like vocalizing or dive-bombing. If you witness this behavior, retreat from your climb immediately and find a location on a different formation or a different part of the wall far enough away from the raptors that they are no longer noticeably agitated. If they remain agitated, then please leave the area immediately.
Raptor awareness is especially important during nesting season from mid-February to late May but needs to be considered through the end of August. Please report disturbed and/or nesting raptors to the Carson National Forest the appropriate district office (see below) and share relevant information here on MP. Human-raptor encounters can have negative impacts for the birds and climbers in the area. The Cason NF wants to maintain climbing access while protecting raptor reproduction and relies on climbers to recreate responsibly and share information in order to avoid the need for formal raptor closures.

Questa Ranger District
(575) 586-0520
Camino Real (Comales Canyon) Ranger District
(575) 587-2255
Tres Piedras Ranger District
(575) 758-8678
El Rito Ranger District
(575) 581-4554

Description

This area includes everything between the Slope City (a.k.a. Pink Wall) and the Sideshow Attraction Wall. For the most part, the rock quality in this large area tends to be on the chossy side and short in length. However, there are a few fun climbs that are worth a visit.

** All routes are equipped with steel lowering hardware. Please avoid toproping through the lowering hardware as both gates of the hooks are oriented facing forward and don't ensure sufficient protection for toproping. Instead, build your own anchor with personal gear and have only the last person lower off the fixed lowering hardware.

Getting There

For Zero Gravity Plinko, walk a few paces left of the left end of Slope City (a.k.a. Pink Wall) to the small scooped alcove. For Raining Blueberries, Hanzo Arête and Captain Underpants, walk downhill through some trees beyond Zero Gravity Plinko, pass through a broken barbed-wire fence and then back upslope towards the rock. The Hanzo Arête will be strikingly obvious.

Routes from Left to Right

5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a 12 ● Captain Underpants Sport
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 24 ● Hanzo Arête Sport
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b 21 ● Raining Blueberries Sport
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b 37 ● Zero Gravity Plinko Sport

● Captain Underpants

5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a Sport

● Hanzo Arête

5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport

● Raining Blueberries

5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Sport

● Zero Gravity Plinko

5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Sport

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Beautiful arete and location. Fun climbing too.