The tunnel through where you cross to the east side of the ridge. Leader is visible on the far side.

All Locations > California > High Sierra > 06 - Little Lak… > Bear Creek Spire > N Arete (5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c)

The tunnel through where you cross to the east side of the ridge. Leader is visible on the far side.

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Looking to the E

John Fujii at the top of pitch 1.

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John Imperato

Aug 13, 2025

“The tunnel through where you cross to the east side of the ridge. Leader is visible on the far side.”

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Nearby Photos

Chimney After Crux Pitch

Colin just below the summit on the ridge

Bear Creek Spire viewed from the Dade Lake area. The North Arete is the prominent Arete facing the viewer, with the NE Ridge being the line which crosses diagonally across the image starting in the bottom left corner.

The North Arete of Bear Creek Spire viewed from the west.

Picture of Ross taken from the summit block. Great view of the lakes.

The spectacular Bear Creek Spire

Summit ridge.

John and Tony on pitch 2.

The N Arete lit from the west.

Adam soloing P1

Summit of Bear Creek Spire

The incredible view from the summit of<br>
Bear Creek Spire

Jascha about to top out on P6 (P5 on Supertopo)

Mary Erdei climbing what we thought was the crux pitch in June 1977. No topos back then. Just the Sierra Club Roper Guide. Bryan Becker waiting below.

view down the E Arete

Little Lakes Valley

The final 4th class pitches to the summit. Note the "smog" in the background due to the [[Zaca Mesa fire]]http://independent.com/news/2007/jul/28/zaca-mesa-fire-again-sends-smoke-coast/ burning north of Santa Barbara.

view toward Dade

North Arete in afternoon light, seen from descent.

Pitch two

thumbs up so far on the route

success!

The 5.9(?) variation off the P3 belay (P2 per Supertopo). The main route goes slightly right up the "trough", then up the flake system.

Climbers on the N Arete as seen from the NE Ridge.

Summit!

Jascha approaching the P5 belay (P4 on Supertopo)

final snow field

N Arete, viewed from the descent (looking SE)

getting closer

Pitch 5 North arete

Dave Burda and Lisa Pritchett on the North Arete of Bear Creek Spire.

Looking up at a party on the crux pitch (.10b variation) we unknowingly followed thinking it was 5.8 boy were we surprised!

Me leading fifth pitch (5.8). Photo by Justin Marion

almost to the summit block

Michelle on the 5.10 dihedral variation on P6 (P5 on Supertopo). The variation climbs the front of the tower, while the main route goes up a right-trending off-width behind the tower. photo by Jascha

John negotiates a gendarme.

P1 per Mt Project

Jascha following up the first pitch

Descending the NE Ridge to escape the storms.

DVS leading the start of the crux pitch. The off-width/"chimney" is pressed up against the the obvious wall on the left. Photo by E. Kim.

Summit of BCS

Eric Collins following one of the lower pitches, circa 1985

Jascha approaching the P3 (P2 in Supertopo) belay

P2 per Mt Project (P1 per Supertopo)

Tony Tennessee leading off on pitch 1.

BCS from the Gem Lake approach trending left up the shallower talus fields. I think this is easier than the Treasure Lakes slabs or going right up the steeper talus at Gem Lake.

On the final traverse before the summit. 07/20/19

navigating the upper ridge

view toward Dade

jim following after 5.8 crux section

en route<br>

5.9 Variation of pitch 2 where I went straight up instead of following the flakes right.

Adam on the approach

The route we took. Pitch 4 felt very loose and we could have been off route but was no harder then 8. Pitch 5 is definitely foreshortened in this photo.

5.9 variation

Stormy skies over BCS and Dade. Time for us to bail.

Looking to the E

The tunnel through where you cross to the east side of the ridge. Leader is visible on the far side.

John Fujii at the top of pitch 1.

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