Indian Rock Video Project
This classic, also known as the Regular Watercourse, uses all holds to ascend the section of rock to the right of the chimney that splits the back of The Pit. (See Map 1.) The easiest way up this broad section of rock is on the right side using all the large holds for footholds and handholds, initially moving right to stand on the big hold and holding the good ledge. The crux is moving left off these good holds, and offers a choice of rounded holds or small edges for the feet (as shown in the video). One can also stem left. Continue diagonally left until you reach the comfort of the large circular bucket. You can either traverse left on good holds to descend the chimney or continue up and right on good holds to the notch between the I Boulder and the main rock. From there, easy climbing up and right leads to the top. Note, caution should be exercised in winter as the upper section can be wet and mossy. It is a long way down!
To descend from the top of the main rock, you can walk off to
the south on the tourist stairs and circle back to The Pit. This
is probably best if you are not comfortable down climbing 4th
class terrain. Most people descend the large diagonal crack on
the right side of The Pit known as Transportation. Even as early
as the Fifties this was used for getting up and down the rock
and not as a climb per se. Accordingly, it is not included here
as a classic problem, though obviously it is part of the oral
tradition. And new climbers should start by climbing up and down
Transportation a few times to gain confidence to use it for descent.
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