Elevation: 7,500 ft
GPS: 32.419, -110.755 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 16,352 total · 105/month
Shared By: jbak . on Apr 10, 2006
Admins: Luke Bertelsen, JJ Schlick, Greg Opland
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Description

This Tony Lusk discovery is one of the best small sport crags on the mountain - has lots of stars and very few.....lemmons.

A rarity on Mt. Lemmon because its summit is reachable only by technical means. You can solo after the Two Birds anchor or do a 2nd sparsely-protected pitch of Spiderman to get to the top.

Getting There

To locate on topo map, look about 1.5 mi south of Summerhaven, and about 1000 ft west of the upper Sabino gaging station. Approach via Aspen Trail.

21 Total Climbs

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Location: The Steep Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at The Steep

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b
 13
● Ashes
Sport
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c
 4
● Blue Note
Sport
5.11b/c 6c+ 23 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 32
● Green Monster/George of the Jung…
Sport
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 6
● Stepping Into Blue Sky
Sport 2 pitches
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a
 30
● Spiderman
Sport
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 19
● Glenn's Route
Sport
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 6
● Slappin the Johnson
Sport
5.12a/b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6a
 23
● Ten Years After
Sport
5.12 7b+ 27 VIII+ 26 E6 6b
 27
● Tony's Route AKA Cres-sent
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
● Ashes
 13
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b Sport
● Blue Note
 4
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c Sport
● Green Monster/George of the…
 32
5.11b/c 6c+ 23 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport
● Stepping Into Blue Sky
 6
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport 2 pitches
● Spiderman
 30
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a Sport
● Glenn's Route
 19
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport
● Slappin the Johnson
 6
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport
● Ten Years After
 23
5.12a/b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6a Sport
● Tony's Route AKA Cres-sent
 27
5.12 7b+ 27 VIII+ 26 E6 6b Sport
More Classic Climbs in The Steep »

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Photos

Pete sending 'Cres-sent' 5.12
Pete sending 'Cres-sent' 5.12
 8
Picture of The Steep and Not So Steep taken from across Upper Sabino Canyon.
Picture of The Steep and Not So Steep taken fro…
 1
Marty's super sweet attempt to go for a hold on Cres-sent, 5.12
Marty's super sweet attempt to go for a hold on…
 1
Miles Kunkel and Meryl Singer (strongest husband/wife team ever in AZ ?) along with Joe Shiefman and a dark-haired Tony Lusk. Late 90s.
Miles Kunkel and Meryl Singer (strongest husban…
 1
View of the steep as you first approach. (Leftmost side of the crag)
View of the steep as you first approach. (Leftm…
 0
Start of the Aspen Trail. Don't let the guy cleaning the bathroom point you out to the trail. He will sent you to Sunset trail. :)
Start of the Aspen Trail. Don't let the guy cle…
 0
Kent Bruner and Steve Johnson back when the crag was being developed in 1999.<br> Cres down the hill.
Kent Bruner and Steve Johnson back when the cra…
 0
The opening from the "Jungle" an awesome approach.
The opening from the "Jungle" an awesome approach.
 0
Head south from here...
Head south from here...
 0
Scenic hike. Now with bench.
Scenic hike. Now with bench.
 0
something on The Steep
something on The Steep
 0
This is why they call it The Steep. Nancy cranking 5.11.
This is why they call it The Steep. Nancy crank…
 0

14 Comments

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1Eric Rhicard
Tucson
1Eric Rhicard   Tucson
This place is great! I have yet to climb anything I didn't think was worth doing. The only problem is that many of the anchors are placed in a location that causes them to run over some edges. Some do not have chains so you will want to bring some one inch webbing to replace what is there. Or better yet bring some quick links and some chains two or three sets ought to do it. Jun 26, 2006
Christian
Casa do Cacete
Christian   Casa do Cacete
There's also some fun moderate climbs there and it's a great place for some variety i.e. for climbing some 10s with a lot of overhanging but juggy sections.

There's a couple of 5.8s down and around the corner to the right that can be used to warm up for the three 10s. Haven't tried the 11As yet but they look pretty stiff..

To get to the Steep, leave the main trail near the top of the hill where it makes a sharp right turn and immediately look for a cairn on a chopped tree up and to the left... Dec 21, 2006
GRupp
GRupp  
thx JB
G Jul 19, 2007
1Eric Rhicard
Tucson
1Eric Rhicard   Tucson
Hey Jbak, in light of the recent development of the Helmet and the fact that the Orifice Wall has been around for a while I think it might of been Vince who suggested that the steep be renamed The Not So Steep. What do you think of Vince's idea if it was his at all? Should we start a forum? :):):) How do you like them smiles Braxton? This old dog may be slow but I can still learn. Jul 11, 2008
jbak .
tucson,az
jbak .   tucson,az
I haven't been authorized to discuss this topic. Jul 11, 2008
jbak .
tucson,az
jbak .   tucson,az
I think there have been more people at the Steep already this summer than in the previous 10 years COMBINED. Jul 31, 2008
Myk BROWN
tucson, az
Myk BROWN   tucson, az
Anybody have any GPS cords for the Steep? Jun 22, 2009
Hendrixson
Littleton, CO
Hendrixson   Littleton, CO
A tree toppled and is currently resting near the anchors of Delt Melt.

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Numerous other fallen trees are obscuring the approach path. Kane and I removed the smaller ones and added additional cairns. May 29, 2010
Jimbo
Jimbo  
Awesome, now I can finally get to the anchors on Delt melt. The tree can't be harder than 5.10!! May 30, 2010
RyanJohnson
Tucson, Arizona
RyanJohnson   Tucson, Arizona
While the tree is still against the rock it is no longer a pain getting to the anchors on Delt Melt or Cres-sent. At least not since I put on my arborist hat. Jul 16, 2010
gtorres
gtorres  
32.427599, -110.755441
is the start of the Alpine trail for those who have never been there. Cairns are a ways up the trail on the left side and you can kinda make out a trail starting to the left where the cairns are. The tree stump bench is about halfway between the first cairn and the start of the Alpine trail. Aug 8, 2011
Chris Prewitt
Chris Prewitt  
Gtorres, I believe you mean Aspen Trail. Aug 8, 2011
Wally
Denver
Wally   Denver
For the first time visitor, this place was tough to find. To get to The Steep, first drive to Summerhaven, and then continue on the road past Summerhaven (as noted above, generally in a southern direction) 1.0 miles to the end of the road, noted as Marshall Gulch. The Aspen trail trail begins at Marshall Gulch.

As noted above, the climbers trail is pretty obvious, on the left, just after the Aspen trail makes a sharp right turn. Perhaps 15 minutes of hiking on the Aspen trail, and then an additional 10 minutes of hiking on the climbers trail.

Cool area - thanks for the obvious development efforts. Wally May 13, 2013
jaspur Chafer
tucson,az
jaspur Chafer   tucson,az
Climbed george of the jungle today. Grabbed onto a jug on a chest sized block below the second overhang On the prow of the arete. It flexed hard. It's gonna pop off any day. Pretty big rock to send down at your belayer. I climbed around it to the right. Be careful folks. It's too bad. Seems like it was part of the route. There's chalk all over it. Not sure if glue would help. Pretty sure a crowbar would.Didn't know what to do but in retrospect I shoulda marked it With a chalk x or something. Sorry.There's a picture of Vince bates grabbing just under the block with his left hand on the George of the jungle page Jul 15, 2015