Wow, I can't believe it's been just a couple of months shy of a year since my last post on here! I suppose I've been busy with life and enjoying the things in it. Within the last year, I'd say I've developed a deeper passion with bouldering, especially when it comes to rarely or never climbed areas. I've moved right up to the Sandia Foothills, only 15 minutes walking distance from a beautiful, large boulder with problems ranging from V4-V9. I've still yet to climb an outdoor V7, though I feel closer to it every time I go out. Lately, though, my goal hasn't been to just climb hard, but rather to reconnect with the adventure sense and the simple joy of climbing outdoors. Within one canyon lately I have found just that. I have always looked up at the rocks higher up in this canyon but never took the time to check it out. And recently I decided to go and venture, and found some of the best climbing (in my personal opinion) in the Sandia foothills. Lined with endless boulders, the sides and ridges of the canyon alone contain seemingly limitless potential. The real gems I've found, however, lie in the canyon bottom right where it narrows. The first big boulder alone has a decent arete problem, very few moves but a fun problem with a dynamic throw (at least for me and my short reach). Then immediately past this boulder is one of the most aesthetically beautiful boulder I've ever seen in these foothills. It's nothing difficult, but it is a fun and must-do warm-up boulder, perfect for even beginning climbers. The higher up you hike, you pass boulder after boulder, presenting so much potential climbing at almost every turn. Lowball-highball, easy-difficult, there is something for everyone here. I personally have a project featuring some of the best movement I've found (again, in my opinion) in the foothills. I'd guess it goes at V5-V6. Nothing too crazy, but it is just so exciting to have found such a great problem with such fun movement. The best part is this canyon is only 5-10 minutes from my house, so I'll be spending a lot of days going out and climbing everything I can find. By the way, I am in no way claiming to have discovered this area, as I know other people climb here. But it is new to me, is mentioned nowhere online, and almost guarantees isolation, all qualities very rare for foothills bouldering areas it seems. There is more to be found and more to be climbed, but I think I'll be hanging out here, testing out all of the beautiful boulders and features I can.
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| Current project, my favorite so far! |
