PRINT: Rock Climb Cobzilla, El Rito

Cobzilla

5.9, Sport, 40 ft (12 m),

Avg: 1.5 from 52 votes
FA: FA: Gary Clark
New Mexico > El Rito > El Rito Sport Area > Balcony

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

Follow the large holds up to the anchors. Not one that you would want to fall on, with its low angle and giant cobblestones (of course, this could be said for any of the low angle routes at El Rito.)

Location

The sixth route from the left end of the crag.

Protection

5 bolts to anchors.

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Larry Earley
Los Alamos, NM

5.9

Best to avoid. Strange moves and hard clips. This is an old warmup climb for the hard men. Not for a 5.8 leader. Moves up high not obvious. Oct 8, 2006

Finn Foster

Not a 5.8 warm up climb. It's a little heady and a few clips are in interesting locations. You wont miss out on anything if you decide not to climb this route. Oct 12, 2015

Aaron Hobson
Clinton, TN

Climbed this route as my introduction to the El Rito sport area, and thought it was stiff for a 5.8. Now I see others have rated it higher. My friend, who has been climbing indoors a lot but has never led outdoors, decided to try this out as his first outdoors lead climb. Somehow, he came off before getting to the first clip and landed awkwardly on a rock at the base of the route, fracturing his ankle. Major bummer! Wish we had taken some of the advice previously posted here. Jun 25, 2018