My calendar tells me it’s the first day of spring… the weather says differently. Either way, I’m thinking of summertime, warm rock, and blue skies, and as I looked back through my photos, I came across my images from a climb I did on Washington Pass last summer. WA Pass is known for easy access, superb granite, and killer views. The spires up there offer rock climbs in a wide range of difficulties, and many a newbie climber cuts their alpine rock teeth on these classic routes.
Last August I went up with a friend to climb the uber-classic Beckey Route on Liberty Bell; three pitches, 5.6, with some easy 4th and 5th class scrambling at the top. What a great climb! We had blue skies, mountain goats, and awesome views. Here’s a photo montage of the day. A little dose of summer!
The early morning hike in… the climb is on the spire in the back, left of the notch. From down here they just look like blobs of rock. The climbs are all 3 or more pitches long.
Climbers traversing to the start of the route above the gully
The route goes up the right side to the center of this face, then continues up and back for one more pitch on lower angle rock to the summit. You can see a climber about 3/4 of the way up the face, in blue.
See the baby goat? They were all over the gear at the saddle between the spires. I hung my pack in this tree.
My climbing partner coming up the second pitch. Great backdrop! That’s Blue Lake peeking out down there.
Me belaying at the top of the third pitch. It’s a fifth class scramble to the summit from here.
On this flat belay ledge, we used a gnarly old tree for an anchor… yes, it was solid!
Approaching the summit on easier terrain, with Blue Lake in the background.
Summit shot! Apparently my climbing partner got the blue shirt memo too.
Looking southeast toward Concord, Lexington, North Early Winters and South Early Winters Spires.
The Wine Spires to the east.
Looking northwest at Cutthroat Peak.
My friend on the summit.
On the rappel.
Me setting up at the rappel chains halfway down.
My partner at a rappel station near the notch at the bottom of the climb. A portion of the rappel route is also a classic climbing route; looking back up at this pitch, I wanted to climb it!
Looking back up the trail after a great day.
South Early Winters Spire; the Southwest Buttress is next on the list!
The gentle trail on the hike out.
Looking up at the spires from Washington Pass on the drive down. Liberty Bell is the high spire on the right. The Beckey Route is on the opposite side. This side is much longer!
Thank you again for inspiring photos! So gorgeous out there and I am so happy you can get out there and play in nature!