Ascent Notes for: Stainless Steel - 5.9 Average Rating : 4.00/5

Never climb this face in July -- it is not shaded at this time of year and it is too hot. Having said that, my party had fund on this route today, on our first time on the North side of Stone. Begin new to the North side, we were not sure where to find the pine tree to rap down to the base of Stainless Steel, so we rapped down from the double rings at the top of Merkin Man, which has the highest set of rings on the North side. It took us 4 raps to reach the base. Sustained bush whacking and bee stings led us to the base of Stainless Steel. At 5.9+, this route had severe pucker factor for us, but was a lot of fun. We strung together the first and second pitches, using the first set of double rings at 45 feet as the first pro and then set up a belay at the second set of double rings. The crux was before the first single bolt after the first set of double rings. On the second pitch, rather than going for the pine that serves as a rap station, stop and belay from the (new) double rings just below the pine tree. From there, the third pitch leads past a couple of pine trees to low angle terrain from which you can walk off. Great climb!