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(A) Great Northern Slab

Washington > Central-W Casca… > Skykomish Valley > Index > Lower Town Wall

Description

The Great Northern Slab is where many climb their first time at Index. There are a lot of fun, moderate trad routes, mostly 2-3 pitches in length. When the sun is out, the routes are all in the sun.

If it is too hot, the relatively cool Inner & Side Walls, as well as Lookout Point, also have great moderate (5.9 and below) routes.

Getting There

The trail from the parking lot leads straight to the Great Northern Slab (i.e. don't turn left or right, just go straight).

Routes from Left to Right

5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 572
● Great Northern Slab
Trad 3 pitches
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
 255
● Pisces
Trad
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 23
● Sandy Corner
Trad
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b
 179
● Libra Crack
Trad
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 1
● Pisces Respawned
Trad
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 3
● Let's Go Bowling
Trad
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 14
● xxRIP - Blockbuster
Trad
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 72
● Sickle Crack
Trad
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 378
● Aries (aka The Lizard)
Trad 5 pitches
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 1
● Air Over Aries
Sport
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 4
● Voyage to the Bottom of the Verge
Trad
5.11b/c 6c+ 23 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 3
● On the Verge
Trad
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 37
● Taurus
Trad 2 pitches
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
● Great Northern Slab
 572
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad 3 pitches
● Pisces
 255
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b Trad
● Sandy Corner
 23
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Trad
● Libra Crack
 179
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b Trad
● Pisces Respawned
 1
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad
● Let's Go Bowling
 3
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Trad
● xxRIP - Blockbuster
 14
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Trad
● Sickle Crack
 72
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad
● Aries (aka The Lizard)
 378
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad 5 pitches
● Air Over Aries
 1
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Sport
● Voyage to the Bottom of the…
 4
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Trad
● On the Verge
 3
5.11b/c 6c+ 23 VIII- 24 E4 6a Trad
● Taurus
 37
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad 2 pitches

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

great index resources at http://web.stanford.edu/~clint/index/index.htm
[Hide Photo] great index resources at http://web.stanford.edu/~clint/index/index.htm
Overview of the area.
[Hide Photo] Overview of the area.
Great Northern Slab in January
[Hide Photo] Great Northern Slab in January
Sunny day at the Lower Wall
[Hide Photo] Sunny day at the Lower Wall
Casey starts up the 5.8 entry to the GNS
[Hide Photo] Casey starts up the 5.8 entry to the GNS
Below the Great Northern Slab, looking up at Libra Crack near the top center. Most of the climbing takes place above Libra Crack.
[Hide Photo] Below the Great Northern Slab, looking up at Libra Crack near the top center. Most of the climbing takes place above Libra Crack.
Blockbuster hasn't made its way into the archives of this site but heres a photo
[Hide Photo] Blockbuster hasn't made its way into the archives of this site but heres a photo

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Sam Beane
[Hide Comment] Does anyone know what the finger crack to the right of the start of the great northern slab is rated/called? Jan 3, 2017
Adam Bracchi
[Hide Comment] Found a blue rope coiled at the base of Sandy Corner on 12/11/2017. We were the last ones to leave so I picked it up. Let me know if it's yours and we'll figure out how to get it to you. Dec 12, 2017
Brennan Enright
Seattle, WA
[Hide Comment] found some car keys on a small ledge at the top of sickle crack by the blockbuster block on 1/15/18. Probably dropped from somewhere on GNS. Left them on the sign by the porta-potty Jan 16, 2018