I am making a very ambitious helix staircase to get up to the deck. It supports itself with a flexible spine made from modular components.
This is a test assembly of the stair pieces without the treads. It looks pretty neat so far. Unfortunately it looks like we will need a support column halfway up. It will be just too jigglely otherwise. If I ever make another one I will use 6x8 lumber instead of 4x4.
Stair treads are on and it is starting to look like a staircase.