Specifically mile marker 162 on the north cascades highway route 20. The quality of the rock is in general great and the summit views excellent. Its amazing granite and its 20 minutes from the road, mikey says emphatically, leaving no room for debate as to whether the climbing on the east face. Washington pass climbing north cascades mountain guides. See the crack that led to the name of liberty bell mountain. On saturday, we climbed the sw rib of south early winters spire. Direct south buttress of mount moran not durrance route. Please understand that rock climbing is an extremely dangerous activity.
Save on sightseeing in washington dc with washington dc sightseeing pass. East of stevens pass are three large falls to the north of the highway around mile post 80. There are several large fires in the area right now. The two classic routes are the 400 foot beckey route 5. Official washington dc sightseeing pass website get washington dc flex pass or washington dc day pass and visit washington dc attractions from over choices. For the east face routes, liberty crack and thin red line, continue over to the.
The best camping near deception pass, washington with climbing. Located on remote washington pass in the north cascades, liberty bell. Belay the first aid pitch from these ledges at the base of the crack. Click on ascents for a rss feed of all new ascents. Concord tower is the summit immediately south of liberty bell mountain in the liberty bell group above washington pass in the north cascades of washington state. I would say that over half of it is very fun climbing though. Find out details on the rock climbing route named liberty crack iv 5. Choose from washington, dcs best city and attraction passes and save big with discounted tickets. Coves, rugged cliffs, and breathtaking sunsets make deception pass state park the most popular camping spot in washington.
Learn more about each sightseeing pass and choose the option. The washington pass area includes some spectacular and easily accessible alpine granite climbs, ranging in difficulty from the 5. With a long weekend, jacob and i drove to washington pass for some alpine rock climbing. Jun 21, 2016 washington pass is an alpine climbing area with all the usual hazardsstorms, loose rock, snowfields. It is rare to find such good crack climbing on an alpine route in washington. The trail will bring you to the east face of liberty bell. When your todo list at washington pass dwindles to the last few ticks in the book, freedom rider will offer an arresting and consuming adventure. At the crest of the cascades range, washington pass encompasses an area of jagged, snowcapped, glacierladen peaks. The washington dc explorer pass gives you an easy and affordable way to experience the best of the national capital. Traverse in from the left for 40 feet on third or fourth class ledges. Washington pass is the largest collection of easily accessible alpine rock. Find sightseeing tours, museum passes and so much more with the washington dc explorer pass, the washington dc sightseeing pass and the build your own washington dc attraction pass. Liberty crack is featured in fifty classic climbs of north america. Located on remote washington pass in the north cascades, liberty bell 7,720 is a striking granite monolith that harbors a number of great routes, from easy novice climbs, difficult freelines, and perhaps washington states most accessible alpine bigwall.
Mountain madness is a mountain climbing guide service and mountaineering school located in seattle, washington. Leading a pitch on the north early winters spire in. Washington pass is an alpine climbing area with all the usual hazardsstorms, loose rock, snowfields. Of the remaining six pitches, three were fun and sustained 5. The liberty crack is a technical rock climbing route on liberty bell mountain near washington pass and is featured in fifty classic climbs of north america. Regardless of any advice you may receive while using this forum, it is your personal responsibility to make sure that you are fully trained to handle the great deal of risk involved in climbing and related activities. Deepest day of the year at stevens pass the good life pnw episode 3. Good for 30 days after your first use, this multiattraction pass provides entry to your choice of three attractions or activities at one price.
The liberty crack is the obvious vertical crack which passes the large roof 2 pitches upon its right side. Liberty bell stands guard over washington pass, and all climbers driving over highway 20 stop to drool. For visiting climbers on the more advanced side of the spectrum you probably have your sights on the famous grade v liberty crack, but there is quite a bit of climbing for the slightly less ambitious. Washington pass the place to get a taste of that alpine ambiance at the cost of a cragging approach. Rainy pass is about 4 miles to the west of washington pass. Liberty bell stands guard over washington pass, and all climbers driving over. Liberty bell mountain is located in the north cascades, approximately one mile south of. Aug 14, 20 pete told me that they were going to climb liberty crack, so i told him that i would make a video of it. We are able to customize trips for climbers of all abilities. Jan, 2020 goat wall is a 2,000foottall piece of glacially carved, metapyroclastic rock off lost river road in mazama, deep in the heart of the north cascades. But the supershort approach from state route 20short by alpine standards anywayalong with a selection of great. First is the east face, with its steep big wall climbs. Liberty bell is the most northern spire of the liberty bell group, a group of spires which also includes concord tower, lexington tower, north early winters spire, and south early winters spire it is a well known peak in washington. Bike the north cascades highway, tawlks foster suspension.
The climbing varies from easy 400 foot routes to difficult multiday aid routes on its 1200 foot east face. The ascent of the serpentine crack was very challenging with most of the middle of the route being entirely done on direct aid and the original ascent used over 35 pitons. Seven summits is our specialty, including everest and kilimanjaro climbs and treks. Mikey schaefer, seanjean lee, blake herrington and i somewhat collectively created a new free. Climb to the summit of liberty bell via the beckey route 5. Its a good line and im sure its better when dry, but overall the value is more in the position than the climbing. The pass is an excellent, accessible example of pacific northwest subalpinealpine forest and meadow habitats. Aug 21, 2016 second pitch of beckey route on liberty bell.
Located on the spectacular washington pass, liberty bell is a domelike mass that is one of 5 peaks that comprise the liberty bell massif. Washington pass is located on the east side of the north cascade mountains about two and half hour drive from bellingham and three and half hour drive from seattle. Finally, is the mercifully short approach, especially for a cascades climb. The washington pass overlook trail, designated a national recreation trail in 1978, runs a short 0.
Serpentine crack liberty bell washington pass, washington. Washington dc sightseeing pass washington dc attraction. Like many of the peaks of the washington pass area, liberty bell mountain is carved. The passes are typically closed between november and april due to heavy snowfall. Washington pass overlook, north cascades national park. This beautiful and stunning rock formation looks equally at home in washington as it would in the dolomites or patagonia. The sightseeing pass dc helps visitors to the capital save money on admission fees and offers hasslefree entry into the citys most popular attractions. Apr 17, 2020 this was beckeys second first ascent on the west face of liberty bell after climbing the west face with john rupley in june of 1958. Then comes the south and west faces with modest climbs in the 5. Its best known for summit climbs like the beckey route and liberty crack on liberty bell, the closest tower to the road. Washington pass climbing by andy dappen with its massive rock domes. Gawk at jagged silver star peak at almost 9,000 5,000 above the highway, and the classic liberty bell and early winters spires at washington pass. Washington pass is awesome and it should definitely be on your list, but a warning if you are planning this trip any time soon.
Climb to the summit of liberty bell via the beckey route. For the best and most complete guide book to climbing in the area pick up a copy ian. Each pass includes a 24hour big bus ticket and a choice of one, two or four attractions. Ice climbing in washington north american iceclimbing. Liberty bell click on routes to subscribe to a rss feed of all new routes added to this category. Lee sending the climb so soon after goris achieved the first female ascent brings to mind other examples of how, once someone breaks a barrier, others seem propelled to pass through it as well. Liberty bell mountain is located in the north cascades, approximately one mile south of washington pass on the north cascades highway.
After a couple of days climbing on the spires at washington pass, my sister jenny and i decided to cap off our climbing trip with a route we had both been eyeing for awhile. Liberty bell is the most northern spire of the liberty bell group, a group of spires which also includes concord tower, lexington tower, north early winters spire, and south early winters spire. Rock climbing routes in liberty bell, washington pass. The area is centered around washington pass on the north cascades highway, extending east to the wine spires and west to liberty bell and the early winter spires. At times the rock is loose, catlittered, and vegetated. Pitch after pitch of highquality granite crack climbing takes you a.
Aac publications liberty bell, the dark side of liberty. Get the washington dc explorer pass the washington dc sightseeing pass. Fred beckey, jerry oneil, and charles welsh reached the summit of the iconic liberty bell as far back as 1946. Goat wall is a 2,000foottall piece of glacially carved, metapyroclastic rock off lost river road in mazama, deep in the heart of the north cascades. Seven mountain peaks you must admire in washington state.
Park in the nordic center lot and hike to the climbs. An included guidebook helps you make the most of your time in the city. Take a few minutes to check out the short side trip to the washington pass overlook. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. The area also has classic aid routes such as liberty crack on liberty bell. Lee first set her sights on climbing city park years ago. From the westside highway view, juno tower is an indistinguishable bump on the ridge just north of the wine spires.
Mazama is the gateway to washington pass and its granite alpine climbing. The liberty crack is a technical rock climbing route on liberty bell mountain near washington pass and is featured in fifty classic climbs of north america references. There are hundreds of possible climbing and scrambling routes in the washington pass area from 3rd and 4th class scrambles to moderate alpine classics to aid climbing lines. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. From the washington pass lookout, liberty bell mountain is. Each location has distinct qualities and offer a variety of climbing. Twisp and winthrop have been evacuated and route 20 is closed at newhalem and at 153 south of twisp. Local guidebook author ian nicholson calls rebel yell one of the best alpine rock climbs in the cascades. Walk back toward the pass, look for the pond on the south side of the road. The best climbing on freedom rider is actually on liberty crack, and the medusa roofs despite having one of the coolest names of any pitch were just a big wet chimney, not what we had imagined for the best 5. The beckey route also called south west face on liberty bell is the most famous climb in the liberty bell group and a alpine classic.
The rock is excellent granite and the tower has two routes on the north face and two routes on the south face. Park at the turnout on the hairpin turn just east of washington pass on highway 20. V liberty crack, but there is quite a bit of climbing for the slightly less ambitious. The highest point along the north cascade highway washington state route 20 is 5,477 feet at washington pass. Rebel yell, on chianti spire, sports some of the cleanest, most exposed climbing at washington pass. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from may until november. Washington pass overlook trail washington alltrails. Deepest day of the year at stevens pass the good life pnw episode 3 duration. Pitch after pitch of highquality granite crack climbing takes you a postage stamp sized summit.
Liberty bell serpentine crack washington pass, washington, usa. Liberty crack liberty bell north cascades, washington, usa. Immediately after the north cascade highway has been plowed and opened, there is tends to be a large amount of ice just off the road along. This lone crack is the routes namesake, and also the crux of the entire 15pitch route. Besides the great climbing to approach ratio, the relatively pointy summits composed of mostly solid granite are the other draw here. Its a long climb but once you get to washington pass, your work is done.
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