The 5-Arch and Crimson Staircase in VoF
(Nevada ENE of Las Vegas)

Pics by Harlan W S
Nov 13, 2021

Both are described in Courtney Purcell's  (CP's) "Rambles & Scrambles" as ~ class 4. Without the current  strap on 5-Arch, that summit is at least class 4.  The 5-Arch crux can be climbed sans-strap by staying left on crappy holds; I'm short, so that is my personal preference. Also don't climb the crux with a heavy pack, and get the sand off you shoes before you start.

I stayed sort-of on Rich H's GPS track (on PB) for Crimson Staircase. After-the-fact, I compared that route with CP's, Bob Burd's and Stav Basis' TRs, and concluded none of us took the same route, except fairly near the top. In retrospect, nothing was worse than class 3 with exposure, but some of my navigational errors (easy in VoF) put me on much sketchier "mistakes." I'd advise making small subtle cairns and knocking them down when you descend. My track is here; use at your own risk. Don't open track in browser, save link to device or desktop.

0map0
Detail map. The USGS
map makes this area look
soft and fluffy. It isn't.
 1map0
Zoom out for context.
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View NE from
near road.One goes L
up a class 2 chute, then
SE and S on the E
side of the summit block.
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I went up and down
through this tunnel,
but never saw the 5
arches.
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This the crux, on the
E side at the base of
the summit block. CP
never mentions it
explicitly, and I've
heard it referred to
as a "chimney." There
was a strap tucked into
the crack, possibly
to keep it out of the sun.
One can go up on left
sans strap, with some
very crappy, off-
balance holds.
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On top, view SSE
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View ENE
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Oops, I screwed up.
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Peculiar instructions
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Sports bra for modesty.
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Heading back down
to crux.
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Just below crux,
view NNW
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Flintstone
appliances
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Now halfway up
valley to Crimson
Staircase.  I'm not
sure I ever saw the
 mountain summt
from below.
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View back S to show
roughness of wash.
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Heading up steep
ramp. I was generally
able to "walk" up,
but there seemed to
lots of chances to slip
on loose Moqui marbles.
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After a somewhat exposed
traverse of some sloped
ramps, look for a hidden,
near-vertical but "easy"
10-20' chimney on R
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View ESE. 5-Arch
looks benign from here.
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View ~S
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View ~W
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View ~N
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Sports bra for
modesty
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About to head down.
Chaotic terrain.
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When heading down,
go L over lump. Straight
ahead is a sudden drop.
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View back N from
car. Gully in center.