Indian Staircase
Indian Staircase
Where exactly is Indian Staircase and is it a good place for newbies to top-rope?
I've had just about enough of this shit.
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Ascentionist
- Posts: 1081
- Joined: Mon Mar 07, 2005 9:23 pm
If you don't mind litter and sand raining down on you and lots of tourons and redneck sport rappellers stomping over your anchor ropes then there is a really nice top rope area just before you get to the routes mentioned. The trees are mostly gone on top, but with a second rope you can use the trees further back for a solid anchor.
Have fun!
Have fun!
There is no TEAM in I
I'll have to disagree. Staircase wall is THE place to take beginners for toproping. I've been out there twice and led up the 'staircase wall' by two different lines, and this is without a doubt the best place to ake beginners, so long as you have static rope for setting up anchors.
On TR, the routes on the easy wall are something like this (correct me if I'm wrong bill)
Beginners staircase 5.2 (and I think it really is a 5.2, not a gorge sandbag)
Middle staircase 5.8
Upper staircase? 5.10
In addition to batman and robin's revenge, two lead lines have been established:
Staircase to heaven 5.2 R (start on beginners staircase and meander up the face, and through the arch)
Staircase direct 5.5 R (start on Middle staircase, but skirt the buldge. Go up throught the arch.
Both are very exciting and fun. Very clean and solid rock.
On TR, the routes on the easy wall are something like this (correct me if I'm wrong bill)
Beginners staircase 5.2 (and I think it really is a 5.2, not a gorge sandbag)
Middle staircase 5.8
Upper staircase? 5.10
In addition to batman and robin's revenge, two lead lines have been established:
Staircase to heaven 5.2 R (start on beginners staircase and meander up the face, and through the arch)
Staircase direct 5.5 R (start on Middle staircase, but skirt the buldge. Go up throught the arch.
Both are very exciting and fun. Very clean and solid rock.
"Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water."
To get there, park in the pave parking lot before the pretty bridge (if driving from the nada tunnel) by the gladie visitors center. Hike out to indian staircase, and go up it about 30 feet and go left on a faint trail.
"Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water."
It's a beautiful hiking area. One night we started at the Sheltowee Trace parking lot by the river near the base of Chimney Top and hiked past the Indian Arch to the Indian Staircase area. The 3rd and 4th class scramble up the Indian Staircase is pretty cool.
"Those iron spikes you use have shortened the life expectancy of the Totem Pole by 50,000 years."
--A Navaho elder
--A Navaho elder
