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Elevation: 5,481 ft
GPS: 32.4584, -106.7823
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 34,453 total · 157/month
Shared By: Aaron Hobson on Feb 26, 2006 · Updates
Admins: Jason Halladay, Mike Hoskins, Anna Brown

Description Suggest change

A huge east facing wall, over 500' at its highest point and almost twice as wide. There are many enticing crack systems which give the wall its checkered appearance. Several large boulders litter the valley below and offer many challenges of their own. You can follow one of the listed routes up this immense face, you can design your own variations connecting different crack systems, or simply choose a line and have at it.

Getting There Suggest change

Coordinates
-Base of the mountian
32° 27' 28.5855" N,
106° 46'54.2431" W
-Parking
32° 27' 17.2692" N,
106° 46' 31.0739" W

Zero your odometer where N Jornada Rd meets the Bataan Memorial Highway (Hwy 70). Drive north on Jornada for ~4.89 miles. There are two dirt roads less than 0.1 miles apart.  The first is sandier than the second but generally flat and probably ok for 2-wheel drive.  Where the second road joins the first, the second has a 10 foot section probably warranting 4-wheel drive. Drive less than a mile to the road's end. Along the way you'll pass beneath some power lines. This last part does not need four wheel drive but high clearance is required in a few spots.

A well-used climbers' trail heads north of the end of the road, and then snakes west / north to the base of the wall. It takes about 30 minutes of hiking.

The trail ends at the base of Cross-trainer. Minor bushwhacking or scrambling is needed for some of the other climbs.

Cross-trainer can be rapped after summiting. The walk-off down the south end of the wall is easy but long with a need to come back up and is not recommended.

16 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

Location: Checkerboard Wall Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at Checkerboard Wall

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 83
Cross-trainer
Trad, Sport 4 pitches
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 16
Pawn's Promotion
Trad 4 pitches
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 5
Red Squares
Trad 3 pitches
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 25
Knight's Move
Trad 4 pitches
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 9
Lone Piton
Trad 3 pitches
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 5
Punch In The Nose
Trad 4 pitches
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c PG13
 22
King Me
Trad 5 pitches
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 12
Checkmate
Trad, Sport
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 13
Queen's Gambit
Trad 5 pitches
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b
 7
Ring Leader
Trad 3 pitches
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Cross-trainer
 83
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad, Sport 4 pitches
Pawn's Promotion
 16
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad 4 pitches
Red Squares
 5
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad 3 pitches
Knight's Move
 25
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad 4 pitches
Lone Piton
 9
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad 3 pitches
Punch In The Nose
 5
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad 4 pitches
King Me
 22
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c PG13 Trad 5 pitches
Checkmate
 12
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad, Sport
Queen's Gambit
 13
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad 5 pitches
Ring Leader
 7
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad 3 pitches
More Classic Climbs in Checkerboard Wall »

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