I don't understand your issues. Could you post a picture taken from farther back that shows what you're doing and working with?

The photo is the old steps, which have now been removed. So far I've built 5 new stone (PISA 2 by Unilock) steps. I've just about reached the area where the 6"x6" beams stick out.

My solution is to put duckbill anchors in all the current beams, except the lowest. Remove the lowest, and start a retaining wall. Then undo the next beam up duckbill locks, remove beam, build more wall, etc. Making more steps in conjunction with height of wall.

Your solution ? Thanks

In order to offer advice, we should be able to see ALL about this project, not just pieces where we have blinders on. You should show a picture of the rebuilt portion and from the other side of the fence facing this way, but from not too close up. You're being a little stingy with what's shown in the viewfinder! The written explanation, I'm sorry to say, is not that clear. (Just guessing, but whatever you're doing with duckbill anchors, I don't think it's going to be a good solution. For this project, you should primarily be following conventional methods of construction.)

I'd like to send more photos, but it seems I can only send one at a time ?
My concern is that on the other side of the fence is a wooden deck which consists of 2"x6" planks sitting on four or five 2"x8"s resting on the ground. One of those 2 by 8's is only 14" away from the fence. If I remove all the 6x6 beams, the earth is going to come tumbling down, under mining the deck. If you tell me how to send multiple photos, I will.
In the meantime, I'll send one at a time. This first one is a photo of the new steps, and how far I've got up. I've done 5 steps. You can see the beams at the top of the photo. They are poking out such that will be in the way of the new steps. Thanks.

In the attached photo you can see what's on the other side of the fence. It's a deck consisting of 2x6 planks resting on 2X8's. You can see my feet standing on it ! You can see the green screws going through the 2x6 planks into the 2x8 underneath. (About 12" to 14" away from, the fence). Note the green planks to the right are new ones I put in earlier this year. The grey ones are older. Note how close the 2x8 is to the fence. I'm no expert, but I think there is a real danger of the earth under that 2x8 sliding away down the steps slope if I remove all the 6x6s at once on the other side of the fence.

I was not trying to deceive or mislay anyone, I was just trying to make it simple. Now I have laid out all the facts as I see them. However, if more detail is required, please ask !

Any solutions or approaches would be appreciated. Thank you.

I cannot tell where the deck (that you're standing on in the picture) is relative to the steps and wall. (There should not be any "2-by" wood material in contact with the ground. It will not hold up for the long term.)

It does not look like the steps will hold. Their first course should be below grade. Each course should be a "U" shaped layout with returns at each side. The falling wood wall should be rebuilt before the steps get near that area. You'll need to excavate for it as per the Interlock specs. Because of the slope, you'll need to excavate deeper for the starting course of the wall. It's likely that once you remove the failing wood wall you can excavate without the slope crumbling, but rebuild the wall without delay because rain or too long an exposure can do damage. Keep weight off of the top of the slope during the construction process. You need to plan for drainage per the Interlock specs.

The linked Interlock installation guide will help for general ideas about how the wall is constructed.

If you have more questions, please add a picture that shows: deck at top, entire path of steps and the wood walk where you were standing all in ONE picture. Back up with camera and show the entire construction scene. You can only add one picture per post unless all pictures are first uploaded to a photo-hosting website.

Here is a link that might be useful: Pisa2 Installation Guide

This will be my last posting on this forum. As such, let me suggest you don't make dire predictions unless you know all the facts. For example the 2x8's are not strictly on the earth itself, but on small concrete pillars. Secondly, underneath the first step you can see in the photograph, there is a course completely buried, and underneath that there is 6" of aggregate. Do you think I am completely dumb or something ?

I already have the Guide.

And do you know what ? You have not contributed ANY positive suggestion. Goodbye.

Good luck. I hope it turns out well for you.

I am perplexed but , oh well.

Ditto here, emmarene. You can see that from the beginning I'm asking him for an overall photo that helps put the pieces in perspective ... but it never comes. ...Just close-ups that always leave mystery. He can see what's there and thinks it's obvious. But it's not obvious at this end. Throughout the thread I'm hoping for better information. You may have noticed my seemingly perpetual frustration with the lack of decent photos that people offer up. I will be more selective about where I put my efforts.

Yard, this thread was doomed from the start. Notice in the photo of the long run of the old steps from the bottom. In the lower right hand corner of the photo you can see that the wall makes a turn and there appears to be a flat area of concrete that abuts the building and the path at the bottom of the steps. This concrete walk/patio? sets the proper vertical design. The gravel path should be at the same elevation or if it must be higher, it should have the same difference in elevation as will be used with the stone steps.

Notice that even if the gravel path is matched to the grade of the concrete, the rise from the path to the first step looks to be about 2 inches more than the risers for the rest of the steps.

The project was already a mess. I doubt this guy would ever consider taking it all out and starting over. Some people can't be helped.

"...this thread was doomed from the start." Well diagnosed.

Every photograph left me with the feeling that there was an attempt to conceal information in spite of a statement to the contrary.

Yard, I have no idea why you work as hard as you do for some of these people.

Sometimes I wonder too.

I'm a lurker but always check to see what is going one. I have learned a lot from just looking and reading the posts. I, for one, would hate to see any of you stop.