Liberty Bell... dry?

[skibum1087]

I am thinking about bailing out of school on Wendsday a little early to go try something at washington pass, probaly the beckey route on liberty bell. Has anyone bene up there recently or have experience this time of year up there. Will the route be climbable or will the low angle pitches just be snowfields? Also will the rap stations be completly snowed in? Thanks a lot

-Spencer

[Weekend_Climberz]

I think you'll do fine right now, especially if you are a ski bum

[skibum1087]

sounds awesome. Yah, our plan is to ski up to the notch, do the climb, and then get to ski until sunset afterwards. The best of both worlds.

-Spencer

[dbb]

I climbed it once in early may. It was mostly snow free as it generally gets some south sun. The 2nd pitch was covered in verglas, which made it a little spicy but you could avoid a lot of it. The ramps down to the first/only rappel were snowy.

[ketch]

Liberty bell is real close to SEWS I would start with reading this trip report

 

My experience is that usually the becky route is clear a bit slower than SEWS.

[skibum1087]

Thanks for the heads up ketch, I did actually see that report. I figuired that the conditions on a 45 degree couilor would be different than on a steeper rock climb. Perhaps conditions on the becky route would be similar to the south arete on sews? does this make sense based on your experiences or do you think the snow conditions found in the couilor will be similar to on the Beckey route? Either way we're going to head up there and check things out, worse comes to worse we just get in a good day of skiing. I appreciate everyones input.

-Spencer

[powdrx]

There was snow on the South Arete route. We saw 3 people climbing it in boots. I didn't see much snow on the Becky route, but there is snow all the way to the notch. You should be good and the skiing rocks!!

[ketch]

My experience would match what Powderx just shared. Usually I think the becky route clears clears a little faster than the arete and a noticably slower than the coulor.

 

I would say go for it. That route is always fun but one of my favorite times was when it was nearly a mixed route. It was possible in shoes but still had some snow and ice to deal with.

[letsroll]

ski you better post at TR as I am looking at that route later this month with the G-friend.

[Alex_Mineev]

here is a distant shot of the massif this Sunday from Silver Star approach (sorry for the size of the image):

[maxhasson]

uh... that looks a little snowy. the sunny rock climber in me cringes...