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Indian Staircase

Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2005 4:52 pm
by overhung
Where exactly is Indian Staircase and is it a good place for newbies to top-rope?

Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2005 5:05 pm
by DKing
There is a easy gumby route out that way called "here comes batman".......... everyones done it.............

Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2005 5:28 pm
by SCIN

Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2005 6:04 pm
by Ascentionist
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! :mrgreen:

Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2005 6:42 pm
by Huggybone
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.

Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2005 6:43 pm
by Huggybone
[end spray]

Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2005 6:45 pm
by Huggybone
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.

Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2005 10:01 pm
by J-Rock
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.

Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2005 1:02 am
by Saxman
Our dogs love that piece of rock. Too many people though.

Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2005 1:27 am
by Zspider
I have been going down to the gorge for years, and I've never seen the Indian Staircase. I'd like to check it out some time. So the staircase is 5.5? Wow! Them Injuns were some awesome soloers, weren't they? Do you think those at the bottom shouted beta?

ZSpider