AJones - Nov 11, 2007 6:27 pm Date Climbed: Aug 11, 1997
Becky & Liberty Crack
Climbed the Becky Route and Liberty Crack. It's good to do the Becky Route first, so you'll have the descent down at the end of a long day on Liberty Crack. Both climbs were great
We were the only climbers on the Becky Route on a Wednesday. There were some guys climbing on the next tower south. I thought the first pitch was easy (even for 5.3) once we figured out to go under the rock and not out onto the right ridge. The 2nd pitch seemed to have a few moves above 5.6 (just factor out the "aid slings" hanging there), but even so with a pack is sort of awkward. The 3rd pitch finger traverse wasn't so bad, but the step up at the corner was the crux move in my opinion because it didn't protect right above the move, a fall in that spot would hurt, and the rope drag gets bad here. By the top of the 3rd the drag was nearly holding me back. I could have used some more longer slings also. I would go with 6 48 inch slings, and 6 24 inch slings. The 4th pitch was only the boulder move (5.6 but seemed more 5.4-5.5) which was cake compared to the previous moves. To rappel off in 1 rap, scramble below the top of Pitch 3 amongst some trees and find a large ledge with bomber anchors.
I thought the scramble approach wasn't really as bad as some say, in fact it was straightforward and easy, but then again I'm used to that type of approach stuff in the Sawtooths, Tetons, and Lost Rivers.
wildstar - Sep 1, 2007 1:50 pm Date Climbed: Aug 28, 2007
Beckey Route
Really fun climb with great views from the summit.
Lots of fun on good rock. Got a little stuck on the chimney move with my backpack. Got up it, but it wasn't pretty. The appraoch up the gully is far more treacherous than the climb.
Liberty Crack 7/7/07. Shirley & I climbed it in perfect weather. Nobody else (2 guys attempting but bailing from E. Face of Minuteman below) all day. Car to car with about ~11+ hrs. on route itself (yes, mostly dragging ass). Icy snow slope w/o ax or crampons was painful in the morning. Aid was mostly straightforward (though a KB on P1 is near popping). Found some of the free climbing (esp. up high) hard (& not too aesthetic IMHO) esp. compared to other comarably rated pitches we did in WA Pass (probably tad off route & as always, I SUCK). Eaten alive on the hike down by mosquitos!! Friday night departure from PDX & early Sunday morning return - not a bad way of spending a long Saturday.
Beckey Route September 21, 2002. Perfect weather. Crowded. Both my wife and I thought that the 2nd pitch chimney was the most interesting part of the climb (not pitch 3). The exposure on pitch 3 seemed to be exaggerated in the descriptions I read before starting out. Actually did not even notice the finger traverse (then again, I'm 6'7"). Actually, the exposure on the whole climb was pretty much limited to seeing the large belay platform below you - i.e. almost nowhere did one get to see 'all the way down'. Did single rope rappels on the way down to avoid getting ropes stuck. Early Winter Spires look like very cool climbs - something on the to do list.
thundercloud - Mar 13, 2007 8:18 pm Date Climbed: Sep 9, 2004
Beckey Route
Very fun climb following an outstanding lead. Terrific rappel. Great camp memories of a raging fire, evil dog, and lunatic wood gatherer.
alpinerack - Dec 10, 2006 8:05 am Date Climbed: Jul 19, 2005
Beckey Route
Second time to climb the Beckey Route. Great route and although a crowded route, both times I climbed it we didn't see a soul!
nasak - Oct 7, 2006 7:07 am Date Climbed: Sep 6, 2006
Route Climbed: Beckey Route
This was my introduction to alpine climbing. I was hooked! Beautiful views of the cascades from the summit!
rhyang - Aug 31, 2006 1:54 am Date Climbed: Aug 27, 2006
Beckey Route
Swapped leads with Steve on an almost perfect day - I led pitches 1 and 3, Steve led the rest. Started from trailhead around 10am, began roping up around noonish, up top by 2pm, spent about 30 minutes gawking at peaks, eating, etc. Back to cars by 4:30. Two rappels with a single 50m rope worked out just fine. Approach / descent gully very loose, but otherwise big fun !
(Fire in eastern WA seemed to be just behind Silver Star, etc)
Steve Larson - Aug 29, 2006 11:38 pm Date Climbed: Aug 27, 2006
Beckey Route
Climbed the Beckey route with Rob Yang. Fun, easy route with awesome views of the N. Cascades the whole way. Smoke from the E. WA fires kind of messed with the photography options (there was a big blaze just behind the wine towers to the NE).
emilie - Jul 31, 2006 5:51 pm Date Climbed: Jun 29, 2006
Beckey Route
Super fun and amazing views!
Andy Dewey - May 23, 2006 8:41 pm Date Climbed: May 15, 2004
lloyd - Jun 27, 2009 2:56 pm
Becky RouteFun climb.
snowflake - Apr 4, 2009 11:51 am
One of my first climbsGood introduction to climbing
Buckaroo - Oct 4, 2008 4:37 pm
Liberty Crack and Becky RouteBecky route 4 or 5 times, twice solo. 1st '93, last Sept '08.
Liberty Crack, 3 attempts solo DNF all.
July '94 -2 days. July '95(Medusa var), July '00, July '01, all in 1 day.
baloodh2000 - Oct 2, 2008 12:27 am Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2008
Route Climbed: Liberty CrackLoved it! The view from the top is beautiful.
kgriggs - Sep 16, 2008 1:50 pm Date Climbed: Sep 15, 2008
Beckey RouteAwesome day on quality rock!
lukic - Jul 13, 2008 1:53 am Date Climbed: Jul 12, 2008
Beautiful ViewsBeckey Route. Beautiful views in a beautiful area with extremely easy climbing. No snow on approach.
uwjennie - Jul 8, 2008 5:37 pm Date Climbed: Jul 6, 2008
Beckey RouteFun route.
AJones - Nov 11, 2007 6:27 pm Date Climbed: Aug 11, 1997
Becky & Liberty CrackClimbed the Becky Route and Liberty Crack. It's good to do the Becky Route first, so you'll have the descent down at the end of a long day on Liberty Crack. Both climbs were great
SawtoothSean - Sep 9, 2007 3:42 pm Date Climbed: Sep 5, 2007
Left some skinWe were the only climbers on the Becky Route on a Wednesday. There were some guys climbing on the next tower south. I thought the first pitch was easy (even for 5.3) once we figured out to go under the rock and not out onto the right ridge. The 2nd pitch seemed to have a few moves above 5.6 (just factor out the "aid slings" hanging there), but even so with a pack is sort of awkward. The 3rd pitch finger traverse wasn't so bad, but the step up at the corner was the crux move in my opinion because it didn't protect right above the move, a fall in that spot would hurt, and the rope drag gets bad here. By the top of the 3rd the drag was nearly holding me back. I could have used some more longer slings also. I would go with 6 48 inch slings, and 6 24 inch slings. The 4th pitch was only the boulder move (5.6 but seemed more 5.4-5.5) which was cake compared to the previous moves. To rappel off in 1 rap, scramble below the top of Pitch 3 amongst some trees and find a large ledge with bomber anchors.
I thought the scramble approach wasn't really as bad as some say, in fact it was straightforward and easy, but then again I'm used to that type of approach stuff in the Sawtooths, Tetons, and Lost Rivers.
wildstar - Sep 1, 2007 1:50 pm Date Climbed: Aug 28, 2007
Beckey RouteReally fun climb with great views from the summit.
MJY - Sep 1, 2007 1:21 pm Date Climbed: Jul 9, 2007
Beckey RouteFun. Great summit for lunch on top.
moneal - Jul 22, 2007 10:39 pm Date Climbed: Jul 17, 2007
Becky RouteLots of fun on good rock. Got a little stuck on the chimney move with my backpack. Got up it, but it wasn't pretty. The appraoch up the gully is far more treacherous than the climb.
rpc - Jul 9, 2007 6:03 pm
TwiceLiberty Crack 7/7/07. Shirley & I climbed it in perfect weather. Nobody else (2 guys attempting but bailing from E. Face of Minuteman below) all day. Car to car with about ~11+ hrs. on route itself (yes, mostly dragging ass). Icy snow slope w/o ax or crampons was painful in the morning. Aid was mostly straightforward (though a KB on P1 is near popping). Found some of the free climbing (esp. up high) hard (& not too aesthetic IMHO) esp. compared to other comarably rated pitches we did in WA Pass (probably tad off route & as always, I SUCK). Eaten alive on the hike down by mosquitos!! Friday night departure from PDX & early Sunday morning return - not a bad way of spending a long Saturday.
Beckey Route September 21, 2002. Perfect weather. Crowded. Both my wife and I thought that the 2nd pitch chimney was the most interesting part of the climb (not pitch 3). The exposure on pitch 3 seemed to be exaggerated in the descriptions I read before starting out. Actually did not even notice the finger traverse (then again, I'm 6'7"). Actually, the exposure on the whole climb was pretty much limited to seeing the large belay platform below you - i.e. almost nowhere did one get to see 'all the way down'. Did single rope rappels on the way down to avoid getting ropes stuck. Early Winter Spires look like very cool climbs - something on the to do list.
thundercloud - Mar 13, 2007 8:18 pm Date Climbed: Sep 9, 2004
Beckey RouteVery fun climb following an outstanding lead. Terrific rappel. Great camp memories of a raging fire, evil dog, and lunatic wood gatherer.
alpinerack - Dec 10, 2006 8:05 am Date Climbed: Jul 19, 2005
Beckey RouteSecond time to climb the Beckey Route. Great route and although a crowded route, both times I climbed it we didn't see a soul!
nasak - Oct 7, 2006 7:07 am Date Climbed: Sep 6, 2006
Route Climbed: Beckey RouteThis was my introduction to alpine climbing. I was hooked! Beautiful views of the cascades from the summit!
rhyang - Aug 31, 2006 1:54 am Date Climbed: Aug 27, 2006
Beckey RouteSwapped leads with Steve on an almost perfect day - I led pitches 1 and 3, Steve led the rest. Started from trailhead around 10am, began roping up around noonish, up top by 2pm, spent about 30 minutes gawking at peaks, eating, etc. Back to cars by 4:30. Two rappels with a single 50m rope worked out just fine. Approach / descent gully very loose, but otherwise big fun !
(Fire in eastern WA seemed to be just behind Silver Star, etc)
Steve Larson - Aug 29, 2006 11:38 pm Date Climbed: Aug 27, 2006
Beckey RouteClimbed the Beckey route with Rob Yang. Fun, easy route with awesome views of the N. Cascades the whole way. Smoke from the E. WA fires kind of messed with the photography options (there was a big blaze just behind the wine towers to the NE).
emilie - Jul 31, 2006 5:51 pm Date Climbed: Jun 29, 2006
Beckey RouteSuper fun and amazing views!
Andy Dewey - May 23, 2006 8:41 pm Date Climbed: May 15, 2004
Route Climbed: OverexposureAwesome climb, great views, fun route!