Outer Space in the Cascades

After many years of dreaming about it, and reservations due to a sore shoulder, Dave and I finally got out to do what some have called the best rock climb in Washington. This impressive looking route shoots up the steep Snow Creek Wall, just south of Leavenworth, WA. The route was challenging, but we pulled through and enjoyed fantastic climbing on a near perfect (was that a lightning strike in Leavenworth?) weather!

If the photo is of me, it is by Dave Burdick and copied from his website. Otherwise, the photos are mine.

Me at the base of the wall

After a good hike in, we readied ourselves, and I got the first lead up a nice dihedral pitch. Dave Lead across 4th class rock to "Two Tree Ledge"

I followed, and was surprised to find that the crux of the climb was on the third pitch! I'd been tricked! Of course, I did want to lead it, and so off I headed. The crux of this climb is a strenuous but well protected hand traverse with a blank, vertical slab below. A creaky flake allows you to gain easier ground above.

The climbing is nice to that point, but on the fourth pitch, one gets a taste of what's to come. Chickenheads everywhere! Dave led this, and soon we were at the base of the legendary crack pitches.

I led off on the 5th pitch

Dave following the 5th pitch

Check out those chickenheads!

Dave led off on the 6th pitch, with a few tricky finger crack moves.

And then the last little bit

Goats greeted Dave at the top; were they really space aliens?