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Stepping Out

5.9, Trad, Sport, 160 ft (48 m), 2 pitches,  Avg: 2.8 from 25 votes
FA: R. Olevsky
Utah > Southwest Utah > Saint George > Snow Canyon SP > Island In The Sky > Sand Dunes
Warning Access Issue: PRECIPITATION AND WET ROCK DetailsDrop down

Description

The route was originally done in 4 pitches, but the pitches are short. Pitch 1 is trad from fingers to hands, Pitches 2-4 are slab climbing protected by drilled pitons (DPs). The pitches can be combined in various enjoyable combinations including 1&2, 3&4; 1, 2-4; or just combine all four into one long route to top out on the ledge at the top of pitch 4.

Protecting the first move above the fixed piton at the start of pitch 1, then "Stepping Out" to start into fingers then hands to kick off the route is the crux and the business.  Not chill like the song ;^D 

P1: Thin crack with a cruxy bulge to start. Protects well with small to medium gear. Also has 1 DP at the start.

P2: Step out onto the arete and follow five DPs to another set of chains. Quality slab climbing! Look down every once in a while to take in the views...

P3: Slopey slab on sandstone climbing past another six DPs to chains.

P4: A single DP protects a few moves to the two-pin anchor atop the ledge.

Rap off the southside of the ledge down in the chimney. 2 raps with a 70 m get you on back down.

Location

Tier 2 of Island in the Sky: SAND DUNES AREA. Same approach as to Leopard Skin or Gratitude.

Protection

1 DP and medium to small gear for the first pitch. And then 10+ DP's for pitch 2.

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Looking up at the first pitch crack. Looks sweet!
[Hide Photo] Looking up at the first pitch crack. Looks sweet!
Getting weird while setting up for the first pitch
[Hide Photo] Getting weird while setting up for the first pitch
At the biz..
[Hide Photo] At the biz..
The 2nd pitches. Looking down from here is exciting!
[Hide Photo] The 2nd pitches. Looking down from here is exciting!

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Kevin Lockwood
SLC, UT
  5.9
[Hide Comment] This route has a nice little tricky start that opens the door to really fun patina climbing up high. You can climb the whole route in one pitch pretty easily with small to medium gear for the start and then about a dozen alpine-draws. I extended all the draws to keep rope drag to a minimum. Mar 28, 2018
Chris Stocking
SLC, UT
 
[Hide Comment] This is such a fantastic line! Linking into Thousand Pints of Lite makes for a spectacular outing. Easily the best thing I've climbed on this wall. Feb 20, 2024