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Big Block

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About Big Block:

Good limestone bouldering and a few sport routes. Stays cool in the summer because it faces North. It is always shaded, so it is quite cold in the winter. There are a lot of traverses and about 6 sport routes from 5.7 to 5.12 range.

Using Climate ratings (1 worse to 10 best) would be Spring=7, Summer=9, Fall=7, Winter=1

Here are links for Escale's Recon photos in higher resolution:

Escale’s 1..25 of 100
Escale’s 26..50 of 100
Escale’s 51..75 of 100

Nearest town or city: Tijeras
Directions: All GPS coord are less the prefix 35.N and 106.E. (So, 0317 x 3619 are 35.0317N x 106.3619E).

Big Block is East of Albuquerque about 15 miles away. From Interstate-40 use exit 175, Tijeras exit. You will quickly come to a traffic light. (0798 x 3873) On hwy 337 head south for about 5.5 miles. In between mile marker 25 and 24 you will find parking (0323 x 3620) on the south side of the road next to a large road cut. Big Block is only about 100 yards hike from here. Hike around the road cut and in the valley you will see a large block and a large wall. Follow the trail down; you will cross a small stream and head straight to the main wall (0317 x 3619).
Photo of parking

There are about 4 group camping sites( $35.00/night camping) available and you must reserve and prepay them with the USFS, but, talk to the USFS Ranger Station just 0.5 mile south of the only Tijeras traffic light on NM Hwy 337 and they can show you some forest roads where there is some throw down camping with no fees attached. These throw down areas are within 5 miles of Big Block. However, there are no facilities. Anyone who sets up a throw down site can only camp there for 12 days and then must move out of the Cibola National Forest district. The USFS people know of some close KOA commercial type campsite areas available nearby as well, they can direct you there.

edited by Drbeagle: 7/10/2004

Latitude, Longitude: 35.03170, -106.36200
Access Issues:
Camping: Yes
When to Climb:
Quantity of Climbs: Week

Most Recent Photos (See all 24 photos)

Murray Pinch
Reachy Sidepulls
No route specified NM State Route 1
No route specified

Forum Discussions (1 posts)

  Subject Author Replies Last Post
With Replies Free guide books or 10000 bum shots. You decide. slavetogravity 22 Apr 21 2004, 4:49 PM