South Early Winters Spire

After completing the Becky route on Liberty Bell, we took off and cooled down in the creek and a nearby campground. Steaks and beer that night for dinner then another early (?) start for SEWS. We chose the south arete. After the first pitch (the best)we encountered two climbers descending, they however could'nt wait to yeild to uphill climbers and dumped rocks on us, one the size of an egg hit Greg in the shin causing a very nice hematoma and choice words from him. After that we had the rock to ourselves. I found the rest of the route a little too easy, and I never got that "alpine" feeling. The scamble unroped across the 5.2 finger traverse and then to the summit were the highlight of the climb. Would I do it again? Maybe... glp