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The Keep
5.9,
Trad, Alpine, 100 ft (30 m), Grade II,
Avg: 3 from 2
votes
FA: July, 2012
New Mexico
> Albuquerque Area
> Sandia Mountain…
> Pinnacle Valley
> Keep
Access Issue: SANDIA CREST CLOSURE ALERT - Beginning APRIL 30, 2026, 140 acres at the top of the Sandia Mountains is under a closure order.
Details
Beginning APRIL 30, 2026, 140 acres at the top of the Sandia Mountains will be under a closure order so the Forest Service can complete two different projects. The first project is an extensive "fuel reduction project" and the second is the demolition/remodeling of the whole upper parking lot and crest house. The Crest Road and all parking areas above the 10k parking lot will be closed in addition to the 140 acres of forest that will be under going the fuel reduction work. The closure will be enforced from April 30, 2026, at 6 a.m. through January 15, 2027, at 6 a.m., unless rescinded. You can find the official area closure order 03-03-05-26-02 on the forest website, where it describes the parking areas and trails that the agency will close at:
fs.usda.gov/r03/cibola/alerts. For more information visit
fs.usda.gov/r03/cibola/news… or contact the Sandia Ranger District Office at 505-281-3304.
Description
The climb is the large pinnacle on the lower part of the Keep Ridge. Climb the North face on the west side up a slightly overhanging hand crack. The crux is leaving the hand crack to a finger crack/mantel.
Location
On The Lower part of the Keep Ridge is the location of the climb. Access by Rapping down the Watchtower. the is a fixed 11mm rope around the summit with a link to rap off.
Protection
[Hide Photo] The keep from above with the route clealy visible.
Albuquerque, NM
The first bit of climbing is so-so but the crack and getting up on top of the thing makes up for it.
It is a 30 meter rap from the 11 mm fixed rope & link at the top of the pinnacle (July 2012) down to the NE - can do climb and rap with one 60 meter rope. Aug 5, 2012