Bear Creek Spire. In February, Bill Kerwin and I made the first winter ascent of this peak via a new route on the south face. Starting on slabby rock uphill of Rowell’s routes, we took a direct line to the summit through the upper steep headwall and finished just ten feet left of the summit block (9 pitches, 5.9). The climb was done in a day from Peppermint Pass; we returned to Rock Creek that night.

Robert J. Parker