Route: South Early Winters Spire / Southwest Rib (North Cascades)

Mountain Information:

• Name: South Early Winter Spire (SEWS)
• Region: North Cascades
• Summit Elevation: 7,807 ft / 2,380 m
• SummitPost: 
• https://www.summitpost.org/south-early-winters-spire/150417
• https://www.summitpost.org/southwest-buttress-rib/161294
• Peakbagger: 
• http://peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=1920
• WTA Link:  
• http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/blue-lake
• Mountaineers Link:
• https://www.mountaineers.org/activities/routes-places/liberty-bell-blue-lake-trail-area-review/south-early-winter-spire-west-face-southwest-rib

• Mountain Project Link:
• South Early Winter Spire / Southwest Rib

• Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
  
  • The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest

 Driving Directions:

• Trailhead: 
• Blue Lake Trailhead 
• Co-ordinates: 48.5167653,-120.6573362
• Address: N Cascades Hwy, Winthrop, WA 98862

• Elevation: 5,200 ft
• Pass:  Northwest Forest Pass
• Directions: 
• WTA: "Approaching from the west, drive 42.1 miles from Newhalem on Highway 20 and find the trailhead on the right. If you pass the Washington Pass Overlook, you have gone too far. A privy is available at the trailhead."
• Food
• Mondo Restaurant at 60102 WA-20, Marblemount, WA 98267
• Road condition
• https://www.nps.gov/noca/planyourvisit/road-conditions.htm
• http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Traffic/Passes/NorthCascades/closurehistory.htm 
• http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/passes/northcascades
• Weather forecast
• Mountain Forecast
• National Weather Service
• Washington Fires
• US wildfire activity public information map 
• Northwest Large Fire Interactive Map
• Avalanche danger forecast:  
• Northwest Avalanche Center

Route Information: Beckey Route / SW Face

• Gain: 2,520 ft
• Round Trip:  5 miles
• Activity: Intermediate Rock Climb
• Difficulty: 5.8, 7 pitches
• Season: May, June, July, August, September, October
• Source: https://www.mountaineers.org/activities/routes-places/liberty-bell-blue-lake-trail-area-review/south-early-winter-spire-west-face-southwest-rib
• Existing tracks:  
• Peakbagger: gpx file, route info
• Caltopo Route: https://caltopo.com/m/0ASD  

 

 

 

 

 

• Approach from summitpost: 
• Start at the Blue Lake Trailhead then hike 1.25 miles towards the first clearing. From here follow the path that heads up to the west side of SEWS, the tallest and furthest right spire. Look up at the southwest side and notice the obvious wide 5.8 crack. Head towards the tree near the base.

• Descend
•  Downclimb the South Arete route until above the 5.4 chimney section. From here 2 single rope rappels will get you to the ground.

Misc 

• Videos: 
• Southwest Rib - South Early Winter Spire - Aug 26, 2016
• NCMG guiding the classic SW Rib on South Early Winter Spire
• Trip Reports: 
• Mountaineers trip reports
• Jul 15, 2017
• Aug 4, 2015
• Sep 28, 2014 
• Aug 12, 2014
• CascadeClimbers trip reports
• Liberty Bell Group - Liberty Traverse 06/13/2015
• Liberty Bell - Beckey Route 07/04/2011
• Nwhikers.net trip reports
• Liberty Bell and South Early Winters Spire 5-29-17
• South Early Winter Spire SW Buttress 04/27/15
• SEWS via SW Buttress 08-24-10

• Others
• Washington pass climbs
• Washington Pass Climbing
• A history of adventure: rock climbing Washington Pass
• Trip Report: Liberty Bell Group alpine climb 6/29/18