Lisa_D

I will be sure not to do that one...glad you escaped unharmed.

That first pitch of Overexposure looked fun...but I wouldn't want to lead it either!

Trip: Liberty Bell - Beckey Route Date: 6/2/2007 Trip Report: Saturday, June 2, Lee (kwangkoo) and I climbed the Beckey Route on Liberty Bell. It was our first climb with a partner of similar experience and strength, as opposed to tagging along with more experienced climbers. Really fun to figure things out for ourselves! Starting out from the Blue Lake trailhead at 7:15 AM, we kicked steps up the gully. We made good time to the Liberty-Concord notch. Enjoying the view, Lee took an artfully-framed shot of Silver Star: I took the first pitch--my first alpine lead! The climbing was easy, but it felt fun to be on the sharp end of the rope after following all spring. Lee led the second, awkward chimney pitch. He styled it, even while wearing the pack, which he'd forgotten to give me at the belay station! After the third pitch, we soloed to the summit. We enjoyed spectacular views, eating lunch and chatting with Joe, Sam, Tamora (sp?), and Steve (goatboy), a fun group of people who seem to have done a lot of great climbing. Turns out I met Joe and Sam in the Eldorado parking lot last June--small world! Originally, we'd intended to climb the North Face of Concord Tower as well, but the bottom pitch was wet and Lee was craving a PBR. So, down we went, plunge-stepping and glissading, taking a bonus detour through the Early Winters creek drainage and coming out on the road a half mile from the trailhead. Happy with our climb, we relaxed at the parking lot (ok, I admit, PBR tastes good after a climb, especially with chips!). A really fun day on a classic route--more climbs to come! Gear Notes: Don't forget slings like we did, or you'll have to use clunky old webbing! Approach Notes: Gully still filled with snow, but things are melting out fast--Significant change since I'd been in the area a week earlier.

Thanks, I actually took the pictures. That sunset was pretty great. ...Being the photographer was the least I could do when Blake and mythosgirl were such fine ropeguns!

Great to meet you. It was fun climbing one pitch with you..wish you'd have felt better. And thanks for the coffee, that totally made my day!

Mark, it's been far too long! Nice to hear the climb went well. I saw Ken's Forester at the hairpin when we were driving home Monday and thought of you guys. I'm sure Ken's glissade was indeed epic!!

Great trip! I did the SW Rib of SEWS this weekend and am planning to do the Beckey Route next weekend..hopefully the rap station will be melted out

I was with Blake and mythosgirl..it certainly was a cc.com party! The wind definitely made things less enjoyable, but overall I had fun on the climb!

Bummer about the weather--Tomyhoi is a fun climb! Try it in a day later in the season when the snow has melted out and the glacier section is small (no crevasses to worry about). It took me 9 hours car to car at a moderate pace with a few rest stops.

...or you could have just let me have the cams in the first place, for $5 each!!!

Yeah, WWU is more bouldering/socializing. The Y is better for conditioning. Go at the right time to avoid crowds.

yep, climbing laps at the gym is pretty much where it's at.

hmmm.. I'm embarrassingly horrible at the WWU gym. (I'm average outdoors). I blame it on polished features and holds, and the fact that the route setters are all a foot taller than me! Then again, I also get frustrated by following a set of moves dictated to me. I like the freedom of outdoor climbing.

I started climbing last summer and the North Twin Sister was my first one. Great day, full of variety: bike up logging roads, exposed class 3/4 scramble on great rock, glissade down the north face, bike down to the car. Go earlier in the season so the north face is snow, rather than scree. Also: Shuksan, Sahale, Eldorado, Temple/High Priest (Enchantments area)...

My boots fit well, but I occasionally use duct tape to prevent blisters. I've also used it on my toes when I drop a lot of elevation with a heavy pack. No more black toenails!

Might be kind of obvious, but if you leave food in your car, be sure it's sealed off in a cooler or something. Once, mice found their way into my car and sampled each item of food I had! Thankfully I was only on an overnight climb.