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Elevation: 7,807 ft 2,380 m
GPS: 48.51216, -120.65513
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 168,148 total · 765/month
Shared By: blakeherrington on Sep 18, 2008 · Updates
Admins: Jon Nelson, Zachary Winters, Mitchell McAuslan

Description Suggest change

South Early Winters Spire is the highest summit of the Liberty Bell Group. Just South of the 'North Spire', rock is excellent granite and there are routes on all sides. The South Arete, SW Couloir, and SW Rib are very popular. With an easy approach up the Blue Lake Trail, or from the hairpin turn on Hwy 20, SEWS features many very accessible routes.

FA via the Southwest Couloir on July 20, 1937. Kenneth Adam, Rafi Bedayn, and W. Kenneth Davis. The summit is at 7807'.

Getting There Suggest change

Blue Lake Trail - ~1 hour of hiking on the trail leads to a meadow and opening on the NW side of the spire, with a wooden "Liberty Bell trail 727" sign.  Leave the maintained trail here, and head up and left on obvious climber paths. The SEWS is the rightmost of the obvious peaks, but the trail to it splits from the Liberty Bell trail fairly high up (around 7000').

Getting to routes on the East side of the peak is best accomplished via parking at the hairpin turn on hwy 20, and following easy gullies, climber trails, and open alpine terrain to the obvious base of the spire.

16 Total Climbs

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Location: South Early Winters Spire Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at South Early Winters Spire

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
Mod. Snow
 22
● Southwest Couloir
Snow, Alpine
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a
 292
● South Arete
Trad, Alpine 3 pitches
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 633
● Southwest Rib
Trad, Alpine 7 pitches
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 85
● Boving Roofs
Trad, Alpine 3 pitches
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c A0
 149
● East Buttress Direct
Trad, Aid, Alpine 9 pitches
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c
 191
● The Hitchhiker
Trad, Alpine 9 pitches
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 27
● Northwest Face (Boving-Pollock)
Trad, Alpine 6 pitches
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c
 18
● Free Mojo
Trad, Alpine 6 pitches
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
 56
● The Passenger
Trad, Alpine 7 pitches
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
 23
● Southern Man
Trad, Alpine 9 pitches
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a A0
 4
● Nothing
Sport, Aid, Alpine 12 pitches
5.13 8a 29 X- 30 E7 6c
 7
● Backseat Driver
Trad, Alpine 7 pitches
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
● Southwest Couloir
 22
Mod. Snow Snow, Alpine
● South Arete
 292
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a Trad, Alpine 3 pitches
● Southwest Rib
 633
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad, Alpine 7 pitches
● Boving Roofs
 85
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad, Alpine 3 pitches
● East Buttress Direct
 149
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c A0 Trad, Aid, Alpine 9 pitches
● The Hitchhiker
 191
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c Trad, Alpine 9 pitches
● Northwest Face (Boving-Poll…
 27
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Trad, Alpine 6 pitches
● Free Mojo
 18
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c Trad, Alpine 6 pitches
● The Passenger
 56
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Trad, Alpine 7 pitches
● Southern Man
 23
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Trad, Alpine 9 pitches
● Nothing
 4
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a A0 Sport, Aid, Alpine 12 pitches
● Backseat Driver
 7
5.13 8a 29 X- 30 E7 6c Trad, Alpine 7 pitches
More Classic Climbs in South Early Winters Spire »

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