Southwest Rib Of SEWS

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Summary

Southwest Rib (SEWS)
South Early Winters Spire summit.

Shirley & I climbed the Southwest Rib route (III 5.8) on South Early Winters Spire in September of 2007. A nice, stress-free day out on good rock and with very nice views. All I recall is the bear hug pitch – the highlight of the route! I think we followed the topo in Beckey’s guidebook vs. the Nelson and Potterfield description. We saw some paragliders (is that what they’re called?) on the hike down.

Photos

Southwest Rib (SEWS)
Shirley deep in thought atop pitch 1 of Southwest Rib on SEWS (Sept. 2007).
Southwest Rib (SEWS)
Leading pitch 2 of Southwest Rib of SEWS...a nice wideish crack (Sept. 2007).
Southwest Rib (SEWS)
Shirley following the nice pitch 2 crack of Southwest Rib of SEWS (Sept. 2007).
Southwest Rib (SEWS)
An unknown party doing the bear hug pitch (#4). Photo taken from the easy slabs of pitch 3 (Sept. 2007).
Southwest Rib (SEWS)
Shirley following the easy slabs on pitch 3 of Southwest Rib. This was taken from the belay just below the bear hug pitch (Sept. 2007).
Southwest Rib (SEWS)
Shirley admiring the views from atop pitch 3 of Southwest Rib route...this is at the base of the bear hug pitch (Sept. 2007).
Southwest Rib (SEWS)
Starting the bear hug pitch (roughly #4) on the Southwest Rib route of SEWS (Sept. 2007).
Southwest Rib (SEWS)
Shirley belaying me from below the bear hug pitch (Sept. 2007).
Southwest Rib (SEWS)
Doing the "bear hug" on the money pitch of Southwest Rib route on SEWS (Sept. 2007).

Southwest Rib (SEWS)
Leading our 4th pitch on Southwest Rib of SEWS. The prominent (if short) double cracks that make up the "bearhug" section are just below me and to the left. Most of the route clearly visible in this shot. The white-edged flake is climbed on pitch 2 of the route. Photo taken via time lapse function on Coolpix set up at base (Sept. 2007).

Southwest Rib (SEWS)
Daddy leading pitch 5-ish on Southwest Rib of SEWS (Sept. 2007).

Southwest Rib (SEWS)
Looking back at Shirley from the lead of pitch 5 of Southwest Rib route on SEWS (Sept. 2007).

Southwest Rib (SEWS)
Shirley following pitch 5 of Southwest Rib of SEWS (Sept. 2007).

Southwest Rib (SEWS)
Blondie beneath the Southwest Rib route of SEWS...we've climbed out of view at this point but the bear hug pitch (short, double crack thing high up) is clearly visible as is the wide 5.8 crack down low (left side; Sept. 2007).

Southwest Rib (SEWS)
Shirley nearing the top of the "Rabbit Ears" pitch of Southwest Rib of SEWS...this is about a pitch below the summit I think (Sept. 2007).
Southwest Rib (SEWS)
Shirley topping out on South Early Winters Spire summit after our climb of its Southwest Rib route. Liberty Bell in background (Sept. 2007).
Southwest Rib (SEWS)
A paraglider and Cutthroat Peak as seen from the base of SEWS after our climb of Southwest Rib (Sept. 2007).

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