Then comes the south and west faces with modest climbs in the 5. Stewardship our current work wcc continues to work with partner organizations at places like leavenworth, mt. Direct south buttress of mount moran not durrance route. Traverse in from the left for 40 feet on third or fourth class ledges. Park at the turnout on the hairpin turn just east of washington pass on highway. Washington pass climbing north cascades mountain guides. The left side of this page provides a trip report and lots of photos from the climb. Drive into the overlook area about a quartermile until a fancy, prominent building is. Rock climbing at washington pass and liberty bell in the. Liberty bell mountain is located in the north cascades, approximately one mile south of. Rock climbing washington leads the way to more than 1,500 routes throughout the evergreen state. The crack is wide at times, but smaller gear can be found.
Climb a steep crack dihedral system with some loose blocks and flakes. V liberty crack, but there is quite a bit of climbing for the slightly less ambitious. Washington pass is the largest collection of easily accessible alpine rock. Besides the great climbing to approach ratio, the relatively pointy summits composed of mostly solid granite are the other draw here. Excellent write up of the fa history, authors own ascent story and a good topo and route description. Hours 10am 10pm monday friday 9am 10pm saturday 10am 7pm sunday. Belay the first aid pitch from these ledges at the base of the crack. Washington pass, north cascades the northsouth pacific crest trail crosses eastwest highway 20 at rainy pass. This is the 2nd pitch of the route the girl next door, an alternate ascent route of liberty bell. The crack becomes continuous only after the first 3 pitches, and after that the route features excellent climbing and surprisingly moderate terrain. Rock climb liberty crack, northwest region mountain project. Their ascent was completed mostly by aid climbing in snow and icechoked cracks. Liberty mountain climbing blog facebook instagram twitter.
Pitch 4 goes up some easy mossy blocks in the corner then tunnel under chockstones and squish through a little slot up onto a nice ledge might need to clear your harness off to. This little leg stretch is an excellent way to break up the drive between eastern and western washington. Liberty bell ruby, a massive ruby sculpted into the shape of the liberty bell the mercury spacecraft that astronaut gus grissom flew on july 21, 1961, was dubbed liberty bell 7. Rock climbers come here year in and year out to enjoy the fantastic alpine climbing conditions and make ascents of iconic peaks such as liberty bell mountain, the early winter spires and silver star mountain, among. From newhalem, on highway 20, travel eastbound about 44 miles to washington pass. An alternate pitch is to head directly up the face to the left of the block cracks, climbing above a second tree in the class 3 area. Climb to the summit of liberty bell via the beckey route. The clean granite of washington pass and the liberty bell group provides some of the best and most accessible alpine rock climbing in the pacific northwest. Located on remote washington pass in the north cascades, liberty bell 7,720 is a striking granite monolith that harbors a number of great routes, from easy novice climbs, difficult freelines, and perhaps washington states most accessible alpine bigwall. Offering the most moderate route up this iconic peak, the beckey route follows the southwest face up a clever series of cracks, chimneys and slabs for four pitches to the summit of liberty bell. Seven summits is our specialty, including everest and kilimanjaro climbs and treks. Rock climbing washington, 2nd regional rock climbing.
Finally, is the mercifully short approach, especially for a cascades climb. January 16, 2018 seattle, wa the liberty bell group, a cluster of five granite spires at washington pass outside mazama, is home to some of the most popular and iconic alpine climbing in washington state, including classic fred beckey first ascents like the beckey route on liberty bell and the west face of north early winter spire. Beckey route on liberty bell, north cascades, washington. The liberty crack is the obvious vertical crack which passes the large roof 2. Liberty bell mountain, liberty crack from mark smiley on vimeo check out the third climb of the smileys committed project. The first ascent was on september 27, 1946 by fred beckey, jerry oneil, and charles welsh by way of what is now known as the beckey route. An olympia man who was injured while climbing north early winters spire near washington pass on saturday aug. After pulling past another bulgy overhang the hard climbing is over, but there is still plenty of fun left. Washington pass climbing by andy dappen with its massive rock domes.
Take advantage of highquality rock and some of the best scenery available in this part of the pacific northwest. This hike takes you on a paved path that leads to incredible liberty bell views from the 1707 m heights of washington pass. July 4 dawned a cloudy day, but we went for the crack regardless, hoping it would clear. Washington pass overlook washington trails association. The groups climbing route, to liberty peak, is prone to slides and among the more advanced on the mountain. Washington pass the place to get a taste of that alpine ambiance at the cost of a cragging approach. Liberty crack was originally freed by brooke sandahl in 1991.
The liberty crack is listed in the book the 50 classic climbs of north. Liberty bell stands guard over washington pass, and all climbers driving over highway 20 stop to drool. Mikey schaefer, seanjean lee, blake herrington and i somewhat collectively created a new free. Over a period of five days, jamie and matt christensen, dale farnham, and john znamierowski climbed liberty crack, the classic big wall of the north cascades. A funny website filled with funny videos, pics, articles, and a whole bunch of other funny stuff. Washington pass is the largest collection of easily accessible alpine rock climbs in the country. I made this video out of disgust for the climbing approach and beta from supertopo which i usually hold in high regards.
Climbing gear the closest gear shop to washington pass is the goats beard, 18 miles east of the pass in the small town of mazama. While small, the goats beard has a pretty solid selection of climbing equipment including a variety of ropes, rock shoes, ice axes, helmets, chalk, tents. The liberty crack is a technical rock climbing route on liberty bell mountain near washington pass and is featured in fifty classic climbs of north america. Liberty crack shoots straight up, somewhere around the left skyline. To see all of the climbs ive done at wa pass, go to my climbing at wa. Explore the granite cliffs of index, leavenworth, and darrington. Liberty crack liberty bell north cascades, washington, usa. For the latest covid19 health guidance, statistics and resources, visit coronavirus. The overlook parking lot is on the north side of the road or left when traveling eastward.
Liberty bell beckey route north cascade mountain guides. Many climbers capable of climbing liberty crack will simulclimb pitches and 14 same as the last pitch of the becky route to the top. Follow the hand jam crack, to an off width, then across an exposed slab around the corner. The trail will bring you to the east face of liberty bell. The washington pass overlook hike is a mustdo for anybody in the north cascades. Liberty bell stands guard over washington pass, and all climbers driving over highway. Retreat storm the route can be rappelled at anytime off fixed anchors from the top of pitch 7. Rainiers classic liberty ridge in may 2010, but when the spring dumped several inches of snow in the cascades, i was forced to wait until later. Tr washington pass serpentine crack liberty bell 6. To approach the ski area, drive the mount baker highway wa 542 from bellingham east to the ski area. Hiking guidebook author offers his top waterfall hikes in southwest washington. Leavenworth is washington states premier rock climbing destination. Follow the austin pass road until able to cut across slopes toward the climb. The liberty crack is the obvious vertical crack which passes the large roof 2 pitches upon its right side.
Situated in the rain shadow of the cascade range, leavenworth is an ideal location for rock. Classics like the southwest buttress of south early winter spire make for rewarding outings for intermediate climbers, while the spectacular liberty crack challenges the most advanced. Ice climbing in washington north american iceclimbing. The washington pass overlook trail, designated a national recreation trail in 1978, runs a short 0. Washington pass overlook hike north cascades, washington. First is the east face, with its steep big wall climbs. Mountain madness is a mountain climbing guide service and mountaineering school located in seattle, washington. Washington pass, liberty crack matt and joannes page. Injured climber rescued near washington pass methow. The beckey route also called south west face on liberty bell is the most famous climb in the liberty bell group and a alpine classic. Mercury capsules were somewhat bellshaped, and this one received a painted crack to mimic the original bell. Rock climb liberty crack free, northwest region mountain project. Rock climbing routes in liberty bell, washington pass. Find out details on the rock climbing route named liberty crack iv 5.
Liberty crack is featured in fifty classic climbs of north america. Stewardship events wcc washington climbers coalition. By this point we realized wed been beaten to the start of the route. The area also has classic aid routes such as liberty crack on liberty bell.
Click on ascents for a rss feed of all new ascents. The crack becomes continuous only after the first 3 pitches which for most are mostly aid. Liberty bell mountain features 18 named traditional climbing routes. Situated on the eastern slopes of the pacific northwests cascade range, washington pass is full of classic climbs and well away from some of the more crowded parts of the cascades. Like many of the peaks of the washington pass area, liberty bell mountain is carved. The beckey route is quite possibly the most famous alpine rock climb in all of the north cascades.
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