Index Town Walls climbing

I just got back from a killer time climbing (more hiking than climbing) with Josh up at the Index Town Walls. As it was one of my first times to the place I found out very quickly that the routes are for the most part pretty hard. We wanted to start on something easier, within the 5.8 to 5.9 range and got worked just trying to find a route that was that easy. There are more routes on the range of 5.11 to 5.12 than anything and being our for a nice relaxing weekend, we might have chosen the wrong place to climb. At the start o the day we made our way up to the upper town wall because I had scoped out a nice 5.8 in the guidebook but having missed the turn to the wall we ended up hiking all the way to the top of the wall. It turned out to be worth the hike with a super scenic overlook but still a very steep section of trail. We made our way back down the trail to search for the 5.8 and quickly found out it was more of a 5.10+ than anything so we decided against it and kept walking around the base of the cliff. We came around the corner to a beautiful crack that had been bolted that leaned off to the left. Josh made a joke about trying it and I took him seriously and soon we were stick clipping the first bolt. The finger slots were just big enough to fit one or two digits with minimal feet to keep you from swinging out the left. After a few tries on that we left to head back down to the base of lower town wall where we sat for a few minutes before deciding to hike up to a smaller set of cracks on a route called Ultrabrutal which is anything but what its name implies. After free climbing it and giving a go at aid climbing (first time) we made our way to a cave to do some exploring. I went and grabbed a headlamp and we made our way into the darkness. I held up at the entrance and let Josh head back further in but quickly made my way out after getting hit in the face by a BAT! It was not the most comforting feeling to get hit in the face by a bat but just like him, I didn't see it coming.

The next day we woke up late and walked from our camp just across the road to the easiest crack at Index (5.8) and waited in line for 2 other groups to get on it before we did. The first pitch was pretty crappy but the second pitch more than made up for it with a nice finger crack with cool lie back. Great climbing and the funnest climbing I've done in a long time. After climbing and rapping down we picked up our stuff and headed out to the car to sort our stuff and head out for some food. I had been to the the burger joint Zeke's one time before so we stopped there on the way home and had a burger which turned out to be one of the best burgers ever. These burgers are good! Not like a fast food burger but an actual real burger. Some of the best after climbing food you can have! All and all it was a great trip but I wish I would have brought us to somewhere with a larger variety in the types of climbs and the difficulty. Great time!

Detour with a great view

Walk along railroad tracks

Fun easy route

Index Town Walls