Scheduled Community Top Roping Sessions

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Top Roping Options

"Scheduled Community Top Roping" for Tuesday & Thursday:   We request that students of the LAM Climbing School refrain from coming to scheduled Tuesday/Thursday sessions until after graduation.  Thank you!

People start showing up at the scheduled top roping location about 4:00 pm this time of year, and sunset is about 7:46 pm.  All climbers are invited to attend these community oriented sessions.  Scheduled by Jan Studebaker.

Weekend Climbing:  Visit the "Los Alamos Social Climbers" for weekend climbing information, finding partners, or discussions about any climbing topic.  Contact Mark Mathis if you have any questions or would like to be added directly to the "Los Alamos Social Climbers" email list.  This Forum is not directly associated with LAM, however, many of it's members are also LAM members.

Climbing Gyms: Climbing gyms are often available in the event of bad weather and/or evenings, and are an excellent way to stay in shape during the winter.  Many leaders get their first leading experience at gyms.  The routes are generally well protected, and the falls seldom result in injuries.  Click here for local gym information.

White Rock Weather   |   Community Bolting Agreement   |   All Route Guides   |   Climbing Fundamentals

  Scheduled Community Top Roping for:   Tuesday, April 17, The Playground

The Playground is a 60 foot south-facing basalt cliff with over 40 traditional routes and topropes.  This area is White Rock's most popular toproping area.  Numerous moderate to difficult crack and face climbs ascend the cliff.  In addition, the entire base of the cliff can be traversed as a boulder problem.  Many people come here just for the excellent bouldering.  Be warned, however, that this bouldering is very dissimilar from what most boulderers would enjoy, and has as much to do with memorizing moves as strength.  Toproping is usually fairly easy, bring a rack and long slings to tie off trees.  Most toprope sets are on a shelf 10' below the rim.  Click here for a route guide.  Sport route bolting is not permitted here, by community agreement.

To get to the Playground from NM state road 4, turn south on Rover Blvd.  After about 100 yards, take a left on Meadow Lane.  Follow this street (it will slowly curve south) passing the turnoff for the "Overlook", and continue to 719 Meadow Lane.  Park near by, being careful not to block mailboxes or driveways (several residents have complained in the past).  Take the public access trail between 719 and 721 Meadow Lane.  From here, turn right and walk toward the rim of the canyon.  Follow the rim for 300 yards and locate an approach gully with a 30 foot basalt tower on it's left side.  At the bottom of this gully is the Playground.  Click here for a detailed street map, showing the location of trailhead and crag.

  Scheduled Community Top Roping for:   Thursday, April 19, The Overlook

The "Overlook" is a long 65' high "L" shaped basalt cliff with over 65 sport and traditional routes.  This area is White Rock's premier sport climbing and toproping crag (routes on the Overlook's popular south side have had toproping bolts installed that can be reached from the rim).  The area is climbable year-round, due to the varied aspect of the cliff.  Most people come to the Overlook to sport climb; though many worthy cracks exist, but they are not on par with those of many other crags in the vicinity.  Click here for the Lower Buttress routes, here for the North/West side routes, and here for the South/East side routes; a large topo is here for the South/East side.

To get to the "Overlook," turn off NM 4 onto Rover, make an immediate left onto Meadow Lane.  Turn left at the sign on Meadow Lane that announces "Overlook Park."  Follow this road due east until you get to its end.  Park here, and walk straight out. Just before you get to the Rio Grande "Overlook", turn left (north), and walk to the end of a narrow ridge of rock.  Climb down to the next level, which is the top rope anchor level.  Due north is the sport climbing area, and due east is the more traditional, crack, bolted, and top roping area.  The Overlook top ropes are all set with bolts.  It is not always obvious that people are below...be careful!  Get to the cliff base by following a distinct trail on the south end of the main cliff.  Click here for a detailed street map, showing the location of trailhead and crag.

Important Notes and Reminders - Please Read!

                             Be very careful not to knock rocks off of the top during anchor setup!
Bring a rope and an anchor set if you have one.  We share and share alike.  Please examine all anchors; your own and those of fellow climbers!  This is particularly important at the beginning of the season!  Please don't be too shy to ask fellow climbers to look over your anchor if in doubt.

Many of us habitually use the Pinon trees in the area for anchors; please keep in mind that many of     these trees are now dead and likely unsafe for anchors.

A top rope anchor must be absolutely bombproof! If you have any doubt what-so-ever, add another piece of protection.  There is no excuse for a poor top rope anchor.  The entire line from the rope to the anchor points must be entirely redundant, equalized, and without a chance for significant extension should an anchor fail.  At a minimum, a top rope anchor must have: TWO independent strands of rope or THREE independent pieces of webbing (NO self-equalizing V slings,) TWO bomber anchor points like trees, or a minimum of THREE good and equalized pieces of gear in SOLID rock.

Disclaimer:  Top roping locations are presented as a favor to the climbing community as a whole, and as such, are not activities of the Los Alamos Mountaineers Club, even though many LAM club members are climbers and take part in the listed climbs.  Please feel welcome to participate!

All participants, regardless of affiliation, are welcome and must assume responsibility for themselves, and the safety of the others at the crags.  Helmet usage is optional, recommended, and seldom observed.  Experienced climbers are usually available to help in the selection of appropriate climbs, to check anchors and to help with belay technique (feel free to ask for help, if in doubt).  You are encouraged to check other's anchors, and report questionable sets to whomever is responsible, or to any other climber/s at the session.  There is no sponsor, and all equipment must be provided by the participants.  Climbing can be dangerous to your health!

White Rock Weather   |   Community Bolting Agreement   |   All Route Guides   |   Climbing Fundamentals

  Scheduled Community Top Roping for:   Tuesday, April 24, The Old New Place

The "Old New Place" is a 60 foot, southeast facing, basalt cliff with approximately 20 traditional routes and topropes.  Many excellent and classic lines, mostly cracks, are found here.  Many are best toproped.  This is a good crag at which to escape the crowds at the Overlook or the Playground.  The descent is on an unobvious rock trail at the south end of the climbing area (at a low spot along the cliff edge).  Click here for a route guide, and here for a large topo.  Sport route bolting is not permitted here, by community agreement.

To get to the "Old New Place" from NM state road 4, turn south on Rover Blvd.  After about 200 yards, take a left on Meadow Lane.  Park near 719 Meadow Lane, being careful not to block mailboxes or driveways (several residents have complained in the past).  Take the public access trail between 719 and 721 Meadow Lane.  The "Old New Place" is almost straight out, but veer left (north) slightly. It is a very short walk to the high spot on the cliff edge.  The descent is via an unobvious rock trail at the south end of the crag, at a low spot along the cliff edge.  Click here for a detailed street map, showing the location of trailhead and crag.

  Scheduled Community Top Roping for:   Thursday, April 26, The New New Place

The "New New Place" is a 60 foot, southeast facing, basalt cliff with approximately 20 traditional routes and topropes.  Many excellent and classic lines, mostly cracks, are found here.  Many are best toproped.  This is a good crag at which to escape the crowds at the Overlook or the Playground.  Click here for a route guide.  Sport route bolting is not permitted here, by community agreement.

To get to the "New New Place," park at the cul-de-sac at the east end of Kimberly.  Walk straight out, but veer left (east).  The main climbing area is a short walk from the cul-de-sac. The descent is a down climb at the south end of the main climbing area.  Click here for a detailed street map, showing the location of trailhead and crag.

  Scheduled Community Top Roping for:   Tuesday, May 1, The Big Enchilada

The Big Enchilada is a 60 foot, southwest facing, basalt cliff with numerous traditional and toprope routes.  Routes are somewhat chossy and many are infrequently climbed.  The Big Enchilada also features 2 bolted sport routes.  This cliff is in a good location and is fairly tall.  Many good routes can be found here, while avoiding the crowds.  Many trad leaders practice here.  Click here for an East Side route guide, and click here for a South Side route guide.  Bolting is permitted here, but is discouraged, due to the lack of good sport climbing potential.

To get to the Big Enchilada from NM state road 4, turn southeast on Monterey South.  Follow this for .7 miles until you come to Potrillo road.  Turn right on Potrillo and continue for .8 miles until you come to Estante road.  Take another right and follow the road back until you come to a pullout on the right side of the road (.3 miles), just past a fire hydrant (this hydrant is on the right side of the road as you approach, don't be fooled by an earlier hydrant on the left).  Park here.  Follow the obvious trail south until it splits, and follow the left branch.  Follow this trail to its end (a cliff edge).  You have arrived!  The hike is about 0.75 miles.  Top rope sets are available to the right and left of the trail end.  Watch for loose rocks on the climbs; particularly near the top.  The descent gully is slightly left of the trail end.  As you come down the gully, two bolted climbs will be on your left, and the main Big Enchilada area is around the corner to the right.  Click here for a detailed street map, showing the location of trailhead and crag.

NOTE: Be very careful to keep adequate distance from the FIRE HYDRANT, mail boxes, driveways, and the edge of the road, when parking. You must keep your tires off the road when you park. If you don't obey these rules, you may get a ticket. The local property owners demand legal enforcement. We are developing a bad reputation with them, which could haunt us for years to come.

Thank You:  Our heart felt thanks go out to the many local climbers who have written the web based route guides referenced on this page.  A very special thank you goes to MountainProject for collecting much of this information and making it available for all climbers.  LAM supports MP's efforts by requesting that local climbers contribute directly to MP's site when new information becomes available on area climbs.