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Nice moderate climb in the best alpine rock area in the state with short approaches - sign me up! This climb involves low 5th class moves, some cracks and friction, separated by sections of 4th and 3rd scrambling on solid granite. Mssr. Beckey and pals climbed these first back in the 1940s. Early season can have snow on the approach - might want to bring an ice axe. This route is a L O N G way from Portland, and it's kinda silly to drive all that way to climb a few pitches of rock. Make a weekend of it and combine this other classics in the area like Liberty Bell.
| Other Information | |
|---|---|
| Driving Distance from Portland | 340 miles |
| Driving Time from Portland | 7 hours |
| Expected Duration | Car to car in one day |
| Relevant Books | Selected Climbs in the Cascades Vol. 1 by Nelson and Potterfield Cascade Alpine Guide: Rainy Pass to Fraser River by Fred Beckey |
| Relevant Maps | (Maps not really needed - climb is very close to highway) USGS 7 minute series, Washington Pass, USGS North Cascades National Park, Green Trails Washington Pass <href="http: maps.google.com="" maps?f="q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=North+Early+Winter+Spire&sll=36.031332,-95.712891&sspn=41.247587,93.164063&ie=UTF8&ll=48.511061,-120.655932&spn=0.016689,0.04549&t=p&z=15"" title="Google map">Google map</href="http:> |