The line of strength up the intimidating, steep red wall.

 The wall is broken by prominent horizontals that provide great rests between very difficult boulder problems. The first involves some very small holds that you have to bear down on for a long reach. The second has sloping side pulls and the third is kind of barn doorish. A final intimidating, i.e. runout, but easier section leads to the anchor.

 It is possible to avoid the last bit and probably at the same grade by stepping right to the anchor of Thunderstruck, though the original route heads up higher and left.

Event Horizon

Cat Daddy

Shot Through The Heart

Boogers & Chocolate

Morning Wood

Dossier

Thunderstruck

Skinwalker

Cloak and Dagger

Wiretap

Autumn Ivy

This was for a long time the hardest completed route in the Sandias and unrepeated on lead. Climbs the obvious crack splitting the steep red wall. The majority of the route is probably hard 5.11+ to a difficult and technical boulder problem at the top. 

  Climb the varied and steep crack till it pinches off as it curves to the right, do crux moves onto the slab and step right to the bolted anchor of Event Horizon or step back left and climb crumbly rock with a fair bit of lichen to the Autum Ivy anchors. 

  Rarely lead, possible to TR from the Autum Ivy anchors with a 70m rope.

Start just about at the same spot as Dossier, but step L into the L arching corner after the initial moves getting off the ground.  There are a few cruxes, first is clearing the roofs and L trending overlaps at the end of the initial corner system.   This section is all good holds and liebacks with steepish.  The second crux is more techy with thin gear and less secure climbing.  The final section is a nice easier ramble to the anchors.

Nice moderate route on the Clandestine Wall. The rock is very good the pro is all there but is hidden from below so the route is a bit committing for the grade (typical and classic Sandias climbing).  The crux is about 20ft up in the form of stemming and a corner change but the upper corner is only slightly easier.

The route is quality sustained 5.8ish climbing with classic Sandia climbing and protection.  Meaning somewhat tricky pro for the grade and technical face climbing.  It seems that there are a couple of cruxes one about half height and the other closer to the top.  Fun and moderate climbing on the Clandestine Wall.

Climb the right angling ramp (awkward) which steepens into a beautiful but short corner for the crux. Continue up and right and merge with Wiretap just in time for its flared, slightly runout grooves. Finish at the same big tree.

Follow the right leaning arete to a hard crux right where the arete straightens out, then an intimidating rock over back to your left to gain a good horizontal break and the end of the real difficulties. 

  The first bit moving up and right along the arete is probably 5.11'ish and ends at a nice two handed mail slot. Get a good shake because it is on for the next 15 feet or so, powerful to start then quite technical ending at a horizontal. Follow an easier crack from the horizontal up to the anchors.

Climb the crack though a series of roofs, to an intimidating final largest and widest of roofs. The difficulty seems to come more from the consistancy rather than a stopper move.

Cloak and Dagger is located on the left center portion of the Clandestine Wall right of the obvious large boulder at the base of the cliff that marks the start of Wiretap. Climb up past 2 pins and some bolts to a thin finger crack on the upper headwall. Excellent face climbing and a devious upper section. Tops out at the rappel tree.

Technical climbing gets you past a not so good looking pin to a button-head bolt. Pro comes from thin cams in horizontals. I found the crux to be right after the bolt. The following bulge is easier that it looks. After this you follow a flaring grove towards the roof and step right just before you reach it.   I found this part very heady. The guidebook calls the pro tricky, but it's not just hard to spot, but also just not that good IMO. While this part is easier than the start there are some 10- moves above not-as-good-as-you-want-it pro.

Starts off the right end of the ledge with difficult to protect climbing but relatively easy for the route, continue up the crack till it pinches off and clip the bolt, do the first crux to where the crack opens back up. Continue up the crack past a thin section, second crux, to a ledge on the right and anchors

The best difficult crag in the Sandias. Skinwalker may be the best 5.10 pitch in the entire range and Autumn Ivy and Cat Daddy are must-dos for the Sandia hardman.

Description

Location

Protection

Routes in Clandestine Wall