The climbing varies from easy 400 foot routes to difficult multiday aid routes on its 1200 foot east face. Liberty bell serpentine crack washington pass, washington, usa. Rock climbing routes in liberty bell, washington pass. Bike the north cascades highway, tawlks foster suspension. Liberty bell click on routes to subscribe to a rss feed of all new routes added to this category. Then comes the south and west faces with modest climbs in the 5.
Climb to the summit of liberty bell via the beckey route 5. 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 references. When your todo list at washington pass dwindles to the last few ticks in the book, freedom rider will offer an arresting and consuming adventure. Jan, 2020 goat wall is a 2,000foottall piece of glacially carved, metapyroclastic rock off lost river road in mazama, deep in the heart of the north cascades. Liberty bell mountain is located in the north cascades, approximately one mile south of. Besides the great climbing to approach ratio, the relatively pointy summits composed of mostly solid granite are the other draw here. Fred beckey, jerry oneil, and charles welsh reached the summit of the iconic liberty bell as far back as 1946. Liberty bell is the most northern spire of the liberty bell group, a group of spires which also includes concord tower, lexington tower, north early winters spire, and south early winters spire. Gawk at jagged silver star peak at almost 9,000 5,000 above the highway, and the classic liberty bell and early winters spires at washington pass. Pitch after pitch of highquality granite crack climbing takes you a. 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. The washington pass area includes some spectacular and easily accessible alpine granite climbs, ranging in difficulty from the 5. Washington pass the place to get a taste of that alpine ambiance at the cost of a cragging approach.
The liberty crack is the obvious vertical crack which passes the large roof 2 pitches upon its right side. Deepest day of the year at stevens pass the good life pnw episode 3 duration. Find out details on the rock climbing route named liberty crack iv 5. Walk back toward the pass, look for the pond on the south side of the road. Jun 21, 2016 washington pass is an alpine climbing area with all the usual hazardsstorms, loose rock, snowfields. Park at the turnout on the hairpin turn just east of washington pass on highway 20. The pass is an excellent, accessible example of pacific northwest subalpinealpine forest and meadow habitats.
Rainy pass is about 4 miles to the west of washington pass. Twisp and winthrop have been evacuated and route 20 is closed at newhalem and at 153 south of twisp. Good for 30 days after your first use, this multiattraction pass provides entry to your choice of three attractions or activities at one price. 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. Serpentine crack liberty bell washington pass, washington. We are able to customize trips for climbers of all abilities. At times the rock is loose, catlittered, and vegetated. The area is centered around washington pass on the north cascades highway, extending east to the wine spires and west to liberty bell and the early winter spires.
Mountain madness is a mountain climbing guide service and mountaineering school located in seattle, washington. An included guidebook helps you make the most of your time in the city. Direct south buttress of mount moran not durrance route. Its best known for summit climbs like the beckey route and liberty crack on liberty bell, the closest tower to the road. The quality of the rock is in general great and the summit views excellent. Liberty crack was originally freed by brooke sandahl in 1991. Climb to the summit of liberty bell via the beckey route. For the best and most complete guide book to climbing in the area pick up a copy ian. Deepest day of the year at stevens pass the good life pnw episode 3. Regardless of any advice you may receive while using this forum, it is your personal responsibility to make sure that you are fully trained to handle the great deal of risk involved in climbing and related activities. The highest point along the north cascade highway washington state route 20 is 5,477 feet at washington pass. Of the remaining six pitches, three were fun and sustained 5. Leading a pitch on the north early winters spire in. The passes are typically closed between november and april due to heavy snowfall.
Learn more about each sightseeing pass and choose the option. Immediately after the north cascade highway has been plowed and opened, there is tends to be a large amount of ice just off the road along. Choose from washington, dcs best city and attraction passes and save big with discounted tickets. Pitch after pitch of highquality granite crack climbing takes you a postage stamp sized summit. Located on the spectacular washington pass, liberty bell is a domelike mass that is one of 5 peaks that comprise the liberty bell massif. This lone crack is the routes namesake, and also the crux of the entire 15pitch route.
The best camping near deception pass, washington with climbing. Get the washington dc explorer pass the washington dc sightseeing pass. 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. Traverse in from the left for 40 feet on third or fourth class ledges. The two classic routes are the 400 foot beckey route 5.
Seven summits is our specialty, including everest and kilimanjaro climbs and treks. Local guidebook author ian nicholson calls rebel yell one of the best alpine rock climbs in the cascades. Find sightseeing tours, museum passes and so much more with the washington dc explorer pass, the washington dc sightseeing pass and the build your own washington dc attraction pass. Rock climb liberty crack, northwest region mountain project.
Please understand that rock climbing is an extremely dangerous activity. From the westside highway view, juno tower is an indistinguishable bump on the ridge just north of the wine spires. Like many of the peaks of the washington pass area, liberty bell mountain is carved. The best camping near deception pass, washington with. Click on ascents for a rss feed of all new ascents. The washington dc explorer pass gives you an easy and affordable way to experience the best of the national capital. Apr 17, 2020 this was beckeys second first ascent on the west face of liberty bell after climbing the west face with john rupley in june of 1958. Ice climbing in washington north american iceclimbing. Washington pass climbing north cascades mountain guides. On saturday, we climbed the sw rib of south early winters spire. Coves, rugged cliffs, and breathtaking sunsets make deception pass state park the most popular camping spot in washington. Located on remote washington pass in the north cascades, liberty bell. After a couple of days climbing on the spires at washington pass, my sister jenny and i decided to cap off our climbing trip with a route we had both been eyeing for awhile. The area also has classic aid routes such as liberty crack on liberty bell.
Specifically mile marker 162 on the north cascades highway route 20. Rebel yell, on chianti spire, sports some of the cleanest, most exposed climbing at washington pass. For visiting climbers on the more advanced side of the spectrum you probably have your sights on the famous grade v liberty crack, but there is quite a bit of climbing for the slightly less ambitious. A short, wheelchairaccessible paved trail at 5,455 feet elevation leads to terrific views of liberty bell mountain rising out of the forest with other peaks, including. Aug 14, 20 pete told me that they were going to climb liberty crack, so i told him that i would make a video of it.
See the crack that led to the name of liberty bell mountain. Washington pass climbing by andy dappen with its massive rock domes. Concord tower is the summit immediately south of liberty bell mountain in the liberty bell group above washington pass in the north cascades of washington state. The classic route up liberty bell, the beckey route, is a 5. Each pass includes a 24hour big bus ticket and a choice of one, two or four attractions. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. East of stevens pass are three large falls to the north of the highway around mile post 80. V liberty crack, but there is quite a bit of climbing for the slightly less ambitious. At the crest of the cascades range, washington pass encompasses an area of jagged, snowcapped, glacierladen peaks.
Belay the first aid pitch from these ledges at the base of the crack. The rock is excellent granite and the tower has two routes on the north face and two routes on the south face. With a long weekend, jacob and i drove to washington pass for some alpine rock climbing. To see all of the climbs ive done at wa pass, go to my climbing at wa.
Its amazing granite and its 20 minutes from the road, mikey says emphatically, leaving no room for debate as to whether the climbing on the east face. Mazama is the gateway to washington pass and its granite alpine climbing. Washington pass is an alpine climbing area with all the usual hazardsstorms, loose rock, snowfields. The best climbing on freedom rider is actually on liberty crack, and the medusa roofs despite having one of the coolest names of any pitch were just a big wet chimney, not what we had imagined for the best 5. First is the east face, with its steep big wall climbs. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Aug 21, 2016 second pitch of beckey route on liberty bell.
Take a few minutes to check out the short side trip to the washington pass overlook. Washington dc sightseeing pass washington dc attraction. Finally, is the mercifully short approach, especially for a cascades climb. To approach the ski area, drive the mount baker highway wa 542 from bellingham east to the ski area. It is rare to find such good crack climbing on an alpine route in washington. Goat wall is a 2,000foottall piece of glacially carved, metapyroclastic rock off lost river road in mazama, deep in the heart of the north cascades.
The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from may until november. Park in the nordic center lot and hike to the climbs. 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. Washington pass, north cascades the northsouth pacific crest trail crosses eastwest highway 20 at rainy pass. Save on sightseeing in washington dc with washington dc sightseeing pass. From the washington pass lookout, liberty bell mountain is. The sightseeing pass dc helps visitors to the capital save money on admission fees and offers hasslefree entry into the citys most popular attractions.
Its a good line and im sure its better when dry, but overall the value is more in the position than the climbing. Liberty bell mountain is located in the north cascades, approximately one mile south of washington pass on the north cascades highway. This beautiful and stunning rock formation looks equally at home in washington as it would in the dolomites or patagonia. Rock climb liberty crack free, northwest region mountain project. Official washington dc sightseeing pass website get washington dc flex pass or washington dc day pass and visit washington dc attractions from over choices. Washington pass is located on the east side of the north cascade mountains about two and half hour drive from bellingham and three and half hour drive from seattle.
For the east face routes, liberty crack and thin red line, continue over to the. The ascent of the serpentine crack was very challenging with most of the middle of the route being entirely done on direct aid and the original ascent used over 35 pitons. The trail will bring you to the east face of liberty bell. Liberty crack liberty bell north cascades, washington, usa.
I would say that over half of it is very fun climbing though. The washington pass overlook trail, designated a national recreation trail in 1978, runs a short 0. Lee sending the climb so soon after goris achieved the first female ascent brings to mind other examples of how, once someone breaks a barrier, others seem propelled to pass through it as well. Washington pass overlook trail washington alltrails. There are several large fires in the area right now. Aac publications liberty bell, the dark side of liberty. Washington pass overlook, north cascades national park. Liberty bell stands guard over washington pass, and all climbers driving over highway 20 stop to drool. Liberty crack is featured in fifty classic climbs of north america.
Liberty bell is the most northern spire of the liberty bell group, a group of spires which also includes concord tower, lexington tower, north early winters spire, and south early winters spire it is a well known peak in washington. Seven mountain peaks you must admire in washington state. Lee first set her sights on climbing city park years ago. 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. Liberty bell stands guard over washington pass, and all climbers driving over. But the supershort approach from state route 20short by alpine standards anywayalong with a selection of great. Washington pass is the largest collection of easily accessible alpine rock. Mikey schaefer, seanjean lee, blake herrington and i somewhat collectively created a new free. Each location has distinct qualities and offer a variety of climbing. Its a long climb but once you get to washington pass, your work is done. There are hundreds of possible climbing and scrambling routes in the washington pass area from 3rd and 4th class scrambles to moderate alpine classics to aid climbing lines.
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