Bear Mountain Falls  WI3+

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Type:  Trad, Ice, Alpine, 4 pitches, 300 feet Consensus:  WI3+ [details] FA:  Season:  winter Submitted By:  David Hertel on Feb 20, 2011 You & This Route  |  Other Opinions (1) Your todo list: Your stars: Your rating: -none- [change] Your ticklist: [add new tick]

Bear Mountain falls from the Beaver Lake Trail.

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Description 

In terms of literal falling pitches, there are four, but you can easily combine the first two and complete the climb in three. Although not very high up the mountain side, the ice tends to form in several drips leaving tons of air space making it difficult to protect and giving it an alpine feel. Some of the ice covers a thick layer of slush so don't go hog wild hacking your way up the ice or you might find yourself hanging on the slick rock face where there was once a nice coat of ice.
Unless the upper section is completely frozen over, You're bound to get wet as the water continues to run all through the season.

Location 

From the Parking lot at Herring Cove (Base of Bear Mtn), follow the Beaver Lake trail to Bear Mtn Falls. You'll see it on the right across a marshy area (littered with Devils Club). Cross the marsh to the base of the falls. There is no trail so it takes a little bush whacking.

Protection 

Screws of varying lengths (definitely a stubby or two) and some screamers.