still_climbin Posted July 21, 2006 Posted July 21, 2006 (edited) Climb: South Early Winter and Liberty Bell-South Arete / Becky Route Date of Climb: 7/17/2006 Trip Report: Drove to Washington Pass Sunday with my son who's visiting from Albuquerque. We had just climbed the Tooth a couple days earlier, my sons's first technical alpine climb. That fastinated him so we decided to give it another shot. Monday morning we headed up to SEWS and climbed the South Arete. It was quite easy but very scenic in perfect windless, sunny, cool conditions. Lots of goats at the base of the route including a couple kids that were very interested in our climb and watched us from up close until we climbed out of sight. Tuesday we repeated the approach and climbed the Beckey Route. I had climbed what is now called Overexposure, directly above the notch back in the 70's but found the Beckey Route to be more pleasing. I think the chimney pitch goes a little harder than the 5.4 shown on the Becky topo, but it was a blast. My son led the third pitch with the layback, friction, etc. and is now totally hooked on alpine I believe. Only other climbers were two guided parties also on Becky but they were slow and and fell well behind us. More goats on the decent. Conditions: The approach trail is really torn up compared to my last trip in the 70's. We did find water near SEWS but not near Lib Bell. Pics: Gear Notes: Smallish rack Snow's gone ..leave ice axes behind. Bring mosquito repellant. Edited July 21, 2006 by still_climbin Quote
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