Better to Climb on Your Knees Than Fail on Your Feet (5a HVS)

Shooting the Messenger (6a E4)

Working For Tips (5c E3)

The Centerpiece of The Gunks.  The middle line on the wall, it starts right of “Better to…”.  the first 20 feet are some of the most safe/climbable and AWKWARD moves you will do at Index.  Try not to laugh at your partner as you’ll be in the same spot soon.

Move to the far right of the ledge and into the pod.  Grab the Monkey Bar rail and traverse back left then head up using the vertical Tippy-Tips and horizontal Juggy-Jugs.

As normal for this cliff, head-pointing this climb is best.  TR it by heading from the base of the cliff up and right to the giant roofs and then left 150 feet to the  top of the cliff.  We recommend belaying a Lead Climber by setting up an anchor on the giant ledge.

The line starts right of “Better to…”.  the first 20 feet are some of the most safe/climbable and AWKWARD moves you will do at Index.  Try not to laugh at your partner as you’ll be in the same spot soon.

Move to the far right of the ledge and into the pod.  Grab the Monkey Bar rail then move up and right to an almost Hands-Free-Ledge.  Start Working For Tips until the climbing eases.

As with all the lines on this cliff, most climbers will be happiest doing a TR preview/Headpoint to at least learn the best protection placements.  If You try an On-Sight, You’ll complain about how it’s a sandbagged climb… Nobody wants to hear your complaints.

Lead climbs are best belayed from the ledge.

Description

Location

Protection

Routes in The Gunks!