[TR] Liberty Bell - Liberty Crack..Grand adventure or giant lesson???? 9/8/2007

[letsroll]

Trip: Liberty Bell - Liberty Crack..Grand adventure or giant lesson????

 

Date: 9/8/2007

 

Trip Report:

Not sure who came up with the bright idea of doing Liberty Bell, liberty crack route but my buddy “P” and I were packed up with borrowed gear to supplement our own and on our way Friday afternoon. Long 7 hrs later we arrived at the parking lot for lib bell to catch some zzz’s. After some discussion on the drive up the plan was to get an early start fire off the first three aid pitches and if we were done with the aid by 11 am then we would go for the entire route that day. We slept in a bit but were still started the route early enough. I was up for the first aid pitch. After looking at the “4th class scramble” to the start of the aid I put on my rock shoes and thus started aiding in my rock shoes. The first pitch was very slow to start, some tricky placements and couple of areas that required me to get out of the aiders. Couple of placements I thanked my parents for the genes that made me tall. Not sure how long it took me but it was FOREEEEVER. Damn I suck at aiding!!!! P cleaned the pitch, and racked up for what I thought was the money aid pitch, the Lithuanian Lip. It took a bit for him to figure out how to pull the roof but he did it in fine style. Now I got to clean it. Damn that sucked. I was slow. Cleaning roofs is hard! Place jumar above piece, take bight pull in to clean gear lower back jug up to next piece. Then to pull the lip, my abs got tired on that one. When I got up to the belay he was very cold so I let him fire off the final pitch so he would warm up. By the time he finished that one I was freezing so I told him to clean the route on rap so we could get the heck out of there. I wanted my pant legs and a warm jacket that was left at the bottom since we started out in sunshine and thought those would be unnecessary extra weight. Big mistake. Day 2., early start. We jugged the lines and the roof was no problem for me, second time around. Oh I jugged in my hiking shoes and what a difference, so comfortable. As I was starting the first fixed line a couple from Seattle started and were French freeing the aid pitches…WOW. They were making great time. P racked up for the 5.10 pitch and went for it. That was a tricky pitch and we were moving slower than thought. I seconded it with the extra gear, shoes, water, clothes and rope coiled and packed away. Climbing 5.10 with an extra 20-30 lbs SUCKS donkey d$%k. I was so tired after that pitch I really started to wonder if we were going to be able to finish in a day. The couple was a pitch below and was clearly moving faster than we were so we decided to wait for them and let them pass. When they finish the wide 5.8 I started up and had a hell of a time getting into free climbing after all the aid. My head from the get go was saying get the heck off the hill. I started up and about half way up I succumbed to my brain and had to be lowered off. DAMN. After having a good head for North ridge of Stuart this was a step back. After looking at the time, all the weight for the second and my head we called it. P fired off the 5.8 pitch in fine style. We left all the hear and I packed the rope up. I was still having some head problems but got up the sucker and we did a two rope rape back to the last belay station to collect gear and get the heck out of there. I rapped down to the station and forgot to clip in, nice comfy ledge. P caught my error and basically saved my life. After getting to ropes unstuck from the first rap we were back at the bottom. The last rap we rapped over a guy aiding the first pitch, man he was aiding in fine style, basically showing us how it is done. WOW is all I can say. On the entire trip we were keeping a mental note of lessons learned on the trip.

 

1) Extensive aiding in rock shoes sucks.

2) Aiding in rock shoes with Velcro is not good. Velcro catches on everything making a cluster.

3) We both needed to eat a lot more and drink water. First day we drank one liter for the both of us and I only ate 2 bagels besides breakfast (most likely major contributor to my head f$%k). Second time this lesson was learned for me, North Ridge of Stuart I did not eat or drink enough.

4) Bring warm clothes with you up on the rock, blue toes, hands, and the shivers at belay is not fun

5) We need a way to figure how to shave off lbs for the free climbing.

6) From Portland it is quicker to drive I-5 to Liberty Bell rather than taking the east side.

7) Bring extra batteries even if you thing the ones you have are good. Damn camera was out for the first day. The best day for pics too.

I like to thank Dan and Justin for loaning me the extra gear. Dan thank for taking me aiding the two times prior at Broughtons. I need a LOT more practice. Beacon??? It was an exciting 3rd time aiding A2 can be a bit freaky when you are new to it. Two lobes on a micro cam will hold body weight but does not like to be moved around a lot. P thanks for the good time, we both learned a lot and next year with some refinement and aid practice we will fire that thing off. We did a lot right; we just need to do more. It was a huge step up for both of us and we both has a great time. P lets fire some more sh$t off. I am game

 

[letsroll]

pics to come when I can get them off my camera

[counterfeitfake]

Nice attempt, sounds like you learned a lot of the things one typically learns on their first big aid climb.

 

I like cleaning aid with one ascender and a grigri. Makes

lowering off a piece very simple.

[ptownclimber]

Yes, let's. Next year we'll switch pitches ;-)

[Bug]

Cool. Experience is golden.

[Rad]

Way to push out of your comfort zone.

[kevbone]

Nice work......

[jport]

Letsroll... seems like your late-summer has been filled with lessons! We certainly learned a lot of Stuart!

Now you have two looming projects on your tick list ;-) You'll be all over it next summer!

[letsroll]

lol the list seems to grow all the time. Next summer how about this year with a good weather window. We know the time line.

[fenderfour]

Way to go after it. You never know if you can until you try.

[billcoe]

Yeah, cool stuff too. Good on ya for not just letting but planning on letting the other folks pass. I love to fly up long routes, and getting behind anyone slow is....well....it's mentally very difficult.

 

Thanks for sharing the trip too! Love to see pics.

[ivan]

you don't have to have your extra rope on your back - you can have the leader trail it as a haul line, then bring your pack up if need be - sounds like having a lot of weight on while trying to do the free-climbing was making you sad clown...

[fheimerd]

It's a fun climb when you know what to expect and now that you know I'm sure you'll cruise it next time.

[layton]

I hear ya man. 6 years ago my friend and I did it on a hot august day. The second I started jugging the 1st pitch, my entire water bladder emptied out my pack and down my leg. By pitch 12 I was so fucking thirsty, I had to take on arm to straighten out the other it was so cramped up.

[pink]

big walls aren't pretty

[telemarker]

Clip cleaning the Lith Lip makes it trivial, and actually pretty fun because it's like you get to lead it too, but as a second. Much preferred than struggling under then over the lip on jugs.

[pink]

big wall 101

[fgw]

nice go at it! I think our friends on e. face of lex ran into you guys that Saturday?

[billcoe]

The second I started jugging the 1st pitch, my entire water bladder emptied out my pack and down my leg. By pitch 12 I was so fucking thirsty, I had to take on arm to straighten out the other it was so cramped up.

 

Was this that trip when you were so dry yer partner was sucking the water ya spilled down there when the schoolmarms was climbin by?

 

Think I heard of that one.

 

That cramping thing is getting more common as I age.

[macmurtb]

I'm jealous...aint nothin' like the N. Cascades out here in New Hampshire......when are you and your lady coming to visit?

[dan_forester]

hey at least you got some use out of my gear - did you try those cam hooks?

 

I need more practice too, so yeah let's get out to Beacon soon. I have to be in town sunday, but saturday's free

 

to p for the lifesaving catch!

[Telemack]

We've all been there.

 

Abs tired on an overhang? Consider a bent-gate on your belay loop, or a fif hook tied in short so you can hang close to the placements w/omuch muscle efort.

[letsroll]

fgw ya we were the two Lex ran into. I am trying as I type to get the photos in the gallery to post. Dan I am headed to smith this weekend. By the way I need to get you your gear, I will call tonight if I have time. Macmurtb we will have to see, got ski lines figured out????

[letsroll]

fgw I have a great pic of them. They were so nice and chill to run into. LOL at one point I said smile and took a pic of them and they both looked up. They must have been thinking who the heck is this crazy fool taking pics...lol.

[letsroll]

P jugging first line

P jugging further up

The couple French Freeing the route.

P headed up the 5.10

Me on the wide 5.8 that I had to be lowered off...Damn

P finishing what I could not

The aiders we ran into on our rap out

The route

Edited September 13, 2007 by letsroll