South Face Of NEWS And Del Campo Peak

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Summary

Shirley on the money pitch of South Face of NEWS. This is a good pitch on an otherwise ho-hum route (Oct. 3, 2003).

On Saturday in early October of 2003, Shirley & I climbed up the North Early Winters Spire via its easiest route, the not-so-stellar South Face (II-III 5.7). An OK route early in a climbing career with much scrambling terrain. At the time it did seem like good times. From Washington Pass we drove to the Darrington area and hiked up Del Campo Peak above Gothic Basin on Sunday. This was a nice scramble route with stellar views. Oh yeah, Blondie was with us that weekend even if she did not exactly bag the two summits.

Photos

South Face Of NEWS

Shirley & Blondie on the approach hike to the South Face of North Early Winters Spire (Oct. 4, 2003).

Belaying from the top of pitch one of SW Face Route - a mostly class 3 pitch (after the first 50 feet, Oct. 4, 2003).

Photo taken on lead of pitch two of SW Face Route. Shirley's belaying me from the class 3 gully below the chockstone (Oct. 4, 2003).

Shirley on the money pitch of South Face of NEWS. This is a good pitch on an otherwise ho-hum route (Oct. 3, 2003).

Approaching the crux moves (5.7) of the SW Face route pitch two (Oct. 4, 2003).

Shirley atop the fourth pitch belay on the South Face of NEWS (Oct. 2003).

Shirley following pitch five of the SW Face Route. SEWS's north face forms the backdrop in the photo (Oct. 4, 2003).

Leading the sixth and last pitch of the SW Face Route. I belive that above my position is the 25-foot 5.6 offwidth option mentioned by Beckey. I was out of big gear and bailed to the left instead however (Oct. 4, 2003).

Shirley on the summit of North Early Winters Spire after our climb of its South Face (Oct. 2003).

Shirley on the comfy summit of North Early Winter Spire. Liberty Bell in the background (Oct. 4, 2003)

Shadows of the Liberty Bell Group as seen from the summit of NEWS: Liberty Bell is on left, followed by Concord and Lexington Towers, then the North Early Winters Spire and South Early is on the right. In background are the Wine Spires and Silver Star Mountain (Oct. 2003).

A climber on the summit of Liberty Bell as seen from the summit of North Early Winters Spire (Oct. 2003).

Shirley hiking down after our climb of North Early Winters Spire's South Face route (Oct. 4, 2003).

Shirley hiking down after our climb of the South Face route on the North Early Winters Spire (Oct. 2003).

Del Campo

Looking back towards the trailhead from our hike up to Gothic Basin and Del Campo Peak (Oct. 5, 2003).

Shirley and Blondie in Gothic Basin on our way up Del Campo Peak...Blondie sat out the class 3 summit pyramid scramble (Oct. 2003).

Shirley in Gothic Basin during our approach to Del Campo Peak (background; Oct. 2003).

Shirley next to Foggy Lake on our hike up Del Campo Peak (Oct. 2003).

Del Campo Peak reflecting in foggy lake (Oct. 2003).

Hiking up toward the beginning of the class 3 scramble up to Del Campo's summit (Oct. 5, 2003).

Foggy Lake and Gothic Basin from high on the slopes of Del Campo Peak (Oct. 2003).

Summit views from Del Campo Peak (Oct. 2003).

Shirley on the scenic summit of Del Campo Peak (Oct. 2003).

Foggy Lake from summit of Del Campo (Oct. 5, 2003).

Shirley hiking down the summit (rock pile) of Del Campo Peak (Oct. 5, 2003).

Older Del Campo Attempt

Shirley and Blondie enjoying some raisins above Gothic Basin.

Del Campo from slightly above Gothic Basin.

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