MUST-GO after Hueco – How to get to Last Chance Canyon

Posted on March 25, 2024

Where to Sport Climb Close to Hueco Tanks

After 3 weeks bouldering in Hueco Tanks, our bodies were spent. As we planned for the next stages of our trip, people kept telling us about a sport climbing crag called Last Chance Canyon near Carlsbad, New Mexico. Though we wanted to keep driving west, the itch to sport climb got a hold of us and we headed north-east from Hueco. It turned out to be exactly what we needed after so much bouldering, and we were even conditioned for the Solstice Cave, which has super overhung climbs all the way to 14a. This place is a must-go for the next times we visit Hueco now! Here’s how to get to Last Chance Canyon and a little bit of beta for your trip here!

Btw, THIS is my Hueco Tanks gumby guide!

How to get to Last Chance Canyon

Just look for Last Chance Canyon, Carlsbad, New Mexico, and Google Maps will take you straight to where you start hiking.

What to climb?

We got on a 10d at the Solstice Cave to warmup both days we were there. It was a good route to get a feeling for the rock here. Then we got on Eternal Sunshine 12a, which people had recommended us, and it was AMAZING. After that, we tried Solstice 12d, which is kind of a thuggy jug-haul, and it was also an absolute blast. Next time we hope to get on the only 4-star route in the cave, a 13b on the other side.

The hiking!

Right where you park your car there’s a sign requesting climbers to pack their trash out (do it). From there, you can see the Solstice Cave all the way in the valley. Hike the path, keeping to the left of the hill you’re on if you ever stray off-path (you can actually see the path on Google Maps if you want a visual). It’s a hike down all the way, which means its VERY tiring on the way up. The way up takes about 45 minutes, but we didn’t time it.

The sleeping?

Last Chance Canyon is inside of Lincoln National Forest, which means you can camp for free. You’ll see a number of camping spots and fire circles right before you get to the trailhead down to the Solstice Cave, and you can stay for free up to 14 days. You also won’t see a lot of people, with we thought was perfect after Hueco.

The driving!

The last 4 miles of the drive here are a bit rough, with some spots where you’d want a little more clearance. Our Subaru Forester made it without a problem, and our friend’s Crosstrek also made it. A smaller vehicle? Maybe, if you’re a master of unpaved roads, but do it at your own risk. The point is, you don’t need 4-wheel drive, but you do want some good clearance.

Extra little bit of beta?

It can get windy AF here, and don’t always trust the weather forecast (it deceived us).
Its close to Sitting Bull falls, where there’s also climbing. We didn’t climb here this time around, but you could also come and just enjoy the falls and get in the water.
Take lots of water, but there’s drinking water from a faucet right before the dirt road at the Guadalupe Rangers District.
You can find all the beta for this climbing crag online, but we mostly used Mountain Project.
We only visited the Solstice Cave, but there’s one area called the Mad Cow Cave, and that’s a spot we’ll be visiting next time because it sounds awesome.

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5 Photographer Travelers to Follow in 2018

Posted on December 21, 2017

Having people to inspire you is super important. What’s coming up next is a list of people who inspired me (Eric) during 2017 and I know will continue to inspire me in the upcoming new year! They motivate me to do things, help me be more creative, and challenge me to be better. So here are 5 photographer travelers to follow in 2018:

Camilo J Universe:

I first ran into Camilo’s work while browsing through Instagram pages that feature Colombian photographers or photos of Colombia. Camilo’s work is absolutely amazing, so it doesn’t come as a surprise that he gets featured a lot on Colombian feature accounts. He mostly does night photography with awesome, interesting, creative compositions that make you wonder how he created each image. I’ve actually learned a lot about night photography from live tutorials he hosts on his Facebook page called Universe.

I’m really psyched to see more work from him this new year and to get inspired to get out there and make something myself. That should be a goal, to do more night photography in 2018.

Julia Wheeler:

I ran into Julia Wheeler’s Instagram page recently because I was searching for anything scuba-related. You know how you have a trip coming up and you get obsessed with it? Well, Lala and I were going to Isla Fuerte, and I just couldn’t get my mind off of scuba diving and underwater photography. So Julia’s Instagram came up because she’s a world-class free diver. And that’s not the only thing that makes her cool: she’s also an experienced photographer and loves taking care of our world.

One of my lifetime goals is actually to be able to free-dive alongside whales for over 3 minutes without going up for a breath. To be up close to whales is one thing, but to be able to do it for extended amounts of time is the goal.

I’m psyched to see where Julia goes in 2018, how she captures it, and how she uses her influence to encourage others to preserve our world so that we can follow suit here at Just North.

Roamaroo (Scott & Collette):

I found these guys this year and they immediately pretty much monopolized my attention for a good while. You see, they’re someone to look up to for Lala and I because they’re being successful at something we like to do. They’re a couple, we’re a couple, they like adventure and sports, we like adventure and sports, they travel, and we… like to travel!

On top of just being plain cool, their writing on each little Instagram or Facebook post or every comprehensive blog post is really captivating.

I’m psyched to see where their travels take them in 2018 and to keep learning from them!

Christian Byfield:

I discovered Christian long ago when I first started using Instagram. He’s an inspiring guy: Colombian, quit his job to travel the world successfully, and always smiling. I’ve honestly never seen him NOT traveling and smiling. From his social media, I’ve deduced that he loves nature, loves people, and has a general appreciation for our world – that is something Lala and I, at Just North, want to convey as well, so we look up to Christian and try to follow his lead wherever we can.

A secret hope we have that won’t be so secret anymore is to hang out and collaborate with Christian someday. Maybe that’ll be 2018, maybe not! Regardless, I’m psyched to see all the places he goes in the new year and to continue to be inspired and reminded to smile!

Mari Travesia:

I’ve known Mari since I was 12, when she took me and my family to rappel, and I cried just thinking of hanging off of that bridge (I didn’t rappel that day, but you could say I’ve grown into it). Lala actually works with her right now on Travesia TV! Travesia is the #1 travel and adventure show in Colombia. It’s been a crazy, amazing opportunity for Lala to be able to do what she loves right out of college.

Mari has been all over the world in her 15 years as a traveler, and I’m psyched to see where her adventures take her in 2018, beginning with Curaçao in January. You can keep up with her travels on Travesia’s YouTube channel… you know I will!

Conclusion for 2017: I’m psyched!

That’s a short list of people who inspire me. There are lots more, but that list would be too long! So who inspires YOU?! Let us know so we can check them out!