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Elevation: 7,807 ft 2,380 m
GPS: 48.51216, -120.65513
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 165,714 total · 813/month
Shared By: blakeherrington on Sep 18, 2008 · Updates
Admins: Jon Nelson, Micah Klesick, 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.

15 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
 21
Southwest Couloir
Snow, Alpine
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a
 267
South Arete
Trad, Alpine 3 pitches
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 546
Southwest Rib
Trad, Alpine 7 pitches
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 72
Boving Roofs
Trad, Alpine 3 pitches
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c A0
 142
Direct East Buttress
Trad, Aid, Alpine 9 pitches
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c
 158
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
 14
Free Mojo
Trad, Alpine 6 pitches
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
 43
The Passenger
Trad, Alpine 7 pitches
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
 21
Southern Man
Trad, Alpine 9 pitches
5.13 8a 29 X- 30 E7 6c
 5
Backseat Driver
Trad, Alpine 7 pitches
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Southwest Couloir
 21
Mod. Snow Snow, Alpine
South Arete
 267
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a Trad, Alpine 3 pitches
Southwest Rib
 546
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad, Alpine 7 pitches
Boving Roofs
 72
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad, Alpine 3 pitches
Direct East Buttress
 142
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c A0 Trad, Aid, Alpine 9 pitches
The Hitchhiker
 158
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
 14
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c Trad, Alpine 6 pitches
The Passenger
 43
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Trad, Alpine 7 pitches
Southern Man
 21
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Trad, Alpine 9 pitches
Backseat Driver
 5
5.13 8a 29 X- 30 E7 6c Trad, Alpine 7 pitches
More Classic Climbs in South Early Winters Spire »

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