Basic Alpine Climb - South Early Winter Spire/Southwest Couloir

This trip is betting that the North Cascades Highway (SR20) opens this week. If it is still closed or the forecast conditions are poor the climb will be cancelled or possibly rescheduled.

The approach will likely need snowshoes. Climbers must be comfortable climbing and rappeling on steep snow in crampons.

Basic students may join if they have passed all of their field trips (except the crevasse rescue evaluation) but this route does not count towards graduation as a rock climb or a glacier climb. Basic graduates are welcome too.

Blue Lake Trailhead at 6:30 a.m. I plan to drive up the day before and camp. The parking lot will likely be snowed in; parking will be on the side of the highway and no parking pass is needed.