Easy climbing to a short crux on the arete followed by more easy climbing and another short crux to the anchor. Maybe easy for the grade at Index.  Spot on in lots of places and makes for a good route name.

5.12 Bar Blues

Start up Playing by Ear.  After bolt 3 and the high steps, meander up and right and merge with 5.12 Bar Blues to the anchor.  You can bypass the best but hardest moves at the end by stretching up right to the rail which goes at 5.10a. You really should just do the harder moves.  I mean, you'll never know how much you can hate a divot until you try to use it.

In Memory of Summer Hanson.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255

Summer

A short but engaging ride up solid hand holds, crimps and solid hand jams.  One can borrow a bolt from 5.10 in B-minor near the top with a runner if the stretch from the last bolt to the anchor feels a bit far, or just scamper to the anchor on easy terrain.

Coal Train

Tie in, scramble up to the sidewalk, put on  your climbing shoes, and throw yourself up one of the most positive wide hand cracks you’ll get at Index. After the crack scramble into the v-slot and shred up to the anchor.  Have a nut tool to easily clean the v-slot crack if needles are in the way.

As you lower, stay out of the ROPE EATING crack to the right of the Jam Session crack.

Jam Session

A variety of TR options exist on this wall.

5.10 in B-Major (Top Roping)

Climb some easy face moves past 2 bolts into a short section of laser cut finger crack. Move left across knobs and up to a ledge.  Look Right for hand holds. Now look Left for hand holds.  Now that you see there aren't any, soft-shoe friction your way past a couple bolts.  Eventually a few crimps, knobs and welcome bolts will get you to the anchor.  This is a SUPER fun climb and worth the hike up by itself... but enjoy all of the lines up here.

5.10 in B minor

Impossible to miss.. A cleaver of granite, keeping time, under the endless cycles of green.  Mind your hips, accept your reach and commit.

Stick clip the first bolt; ascend with an understanding of smears and body geometry. Opening moves are the hardest.

A test-piece of Granitic Boulderism.

The Metronome

Start with the first 2 bolts of Playing By Ear, then walk the sidewalk left to the next bolt.  A baseball knob will pull you into the crack where plentiful gear will be like music to your ears.  It's best to finish LEFT to the Apologies to Kenny G anchor, or more awkwardly, right to the Playing by Ear anchor.  An easy way to set up a TR on Kenny G or Playing by Ear.

Four Cords and an Attitude

Easy climbing up to bolt 3, then Road Runner your feet up to a couple of high steps.  Tap-dance your way left across knobs to the anchor. Harder than it looks but just as fun.

Playing by Ear

4 qd’s, 1 #1, and a bunch of finger size cams. This line will have you singing with joy. Challenging but not too tough face climbing leads to a rooflet crux and a laser cut finger crack. Have your finger crack skills honed.

Perfect Pitch

Creative and slightly sinister moves off the deck lead to a powerful and tedious crux. Some high right hand thuggery and left handed underclung improv, unlocks a pleasant 5.9 fingers finish.

Extremely good… possibly soft for those with some reach.

In Tune and On Time

A sweet arching hand crack followed by a mantel and delicate stems and knobs.  LOTS of climbing are packed into this short route.

Description

Protection

Routes in Lower Rhythm