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Toe The Line

5.9+, Sport, 200 ft (61 m), 2 pitches,  Avg: 3 from 4 votes
FA: Evan Wisheropp, Thomas Rodriguez, and Chris Smalling
California > Northwest Calif… > Footsteps Rock > S Rock

Description

Ever wanted to stand on top of the magnificent South Rock, but didn't want to deal with the looming death potential of climbing Toe Hold? This line is for you. 

Pitch 1 (5.9+)  

This pitch is actually on Central Rock. On the north face, you'll find a large ledge under a large dihedral. Ascend the dihedral to a "tower exit," where you'll bridge your way over to the main rock. Find the holds and its chill, miss them and you'll want a close belay! After a devious slab (again easy if you find the moves, and frustrating if you miss them), you'll come across a sort of ledge and a bolt. To continue onto the multi-pitch, clip this with a sling and walk rightward into the notch and belay. If you are only doing the one pitch, go up and left to lower-off anchors. 

Pitch 2 (5.9) 

From the notch, continue up a slab that eventually joins the very exposed, but easy arete. Views from here are probably the best in all of Footsteps. There are anchors directly below the summit. Belay from here. If you'd like to continue onto the summit, there are highline anchors above, just make sure you know how to get back down to the rappel anchors safely. 

Pitch 3 (5.1)

After rappelling from the summit, reverse the traverse on the first pitch, and continue a bit farther up and left to a rappel anchor. (1 bolt). There are no rappel anchors in the notch because rappelling from there would be very unsafe. 

One could climb the upper pitch of Toe The Line the same way Toe Hold was climbed; soloing up Loaner (5.6 X), carefully rappelling northwest from the old summit anchors, leaving a fixed line, then climbing up from the notch, then climbing back up the fixed line, and rapping southward off the old Central Rock anchors. I've done Toe Hold this way several times, and I believe climbing pitch 1 is safest. 

Location

Starts on the north face of Central Rock, then climbs South Rock to the summit.

Protection

11 draws

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Rapping off the P2 anchor
[Hide Photo] Rapping off the P2 anchor

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Matthias Holladay
On the Road...Looking for a…
[Hide Comment] Dudes! So cool. Apr 27, 2023
Miller Scott
McGregor, TX
5.9+
[Hide Comment] Check this out if you get the chance! A good route that is fun and exciting. The moves are no harder than 5.9+ but it helps to be comfortable at 5.10a slab. Awesome views at the top and a good adventure. Worth going up to the summit but watch for loose blocks for sure. Jul 9, 2023
Matthias Holladay
On the Road...Looking for a…
[Hide Comment] cool!! Jul 10, 2023
Matthias Holladay
On the Road...Looking for a…
[Hide Comment] AGAIN, so RAD. Apr 3, 2024
Matthias Holladay
On the Road...Looking for a…
[Hide Comment] Now after having read the descriptions, sounds like this route needs to be a via ferrata. lol Apr 3, 2024