South Early Winters Spire

BETA PHOTO: North and South Early Winter Spires

Description 

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.

Getting There 

Blue Lake Trail - ~1 hour of hiking on the trail leads to a meadow and opening on the NW side of the spire. Leave the maintained trail here, and head up and left on obvious climber paths. The SEWS is the rightmost of the obvious peaks.

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.

The Classics

Featured Route For South Early Winters Spire

The Passenger 5.11+  WA : North Cascades : ... : South Early Winters Spire

The Passenger is one of the best rock climbs in the Cascades. It is a long grade III or short grade IV, usually done in 7-8 pitches on flawless rock.p1 -5.10D (160 feet)Double Cracks right from the ground. Climb toward a massive roof and go left under roof clipping one bolt. Crux moves come before and after the roof. Belay is bolted.P2. 5.11bish. 140'?Climb mellow cracks up the face above you to a roof. Roof has bolt on it. Pull roof through the ...[more]   Browse More Classics in WA

Photos of South Early Winters Spire Slideshow

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Ridge Traverse to the Summit Pinnacle

Climbing the South Arete