The Passenger, South Early Winters Spire IV 5.12a

Washington Pass, Washington, USA

Currently 5.0/5

Avg time to climb route: 5-8 hours

Approach time: 1.5-3 hours

Descent time: 1.5-3 hours

Number of pitches: 9

Height of route: 800'

Overview

The Passenger is widely considered the Astroman of Washington Pass, or even of the whole state. It offers exceptional and sustained thin crack climbing with occasional steep face climbing that never lets up until the final pitch. Nearly all of the pitches are good and the rock is clean and solid. The Passenger is a mega-classic and a must-do for anyone up to the grade. It is a sustained climb that isn’t quite as hard as the grade suggests. While there is plenty of climbing in the 5.10d-5.11b range, the more difficult sections are often short, powerful, and feel like boulder problems.

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Climber Beta on The Passenger

A total of (1) submissions of route beta on The Passenger

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Route History

First climbed by Bryan Burdo, Pete Doorish and Greg White in 1991. Burdo had long stared at the massive south face of South Early Winters Spire, but it wasn’t until 1990 that White and Burdo went to have a look. The pair climbed ground up about a half way up the wall, free climbing with some mixed aid, cleaning and equipping the route like a sport route. On person would lead the pitch by aid, free or whatever means necessary, then the pair would brush, scrub and bolt the pitch as needed before a red point attempt was made. Burdo then returned the following year and red pointed the route in a long day with Doorish. On the final push, the pair led the upper half onsite, barely finishing before dark. Burdo said they wanted to continue straight up through the steep roofs on the final pitch but were forced left because of fading light. He believes the route should go that way for a direct finish. That finish has been done and is getting more popular but the final classic leftward traverse remains the standard.

Burdo named his route The Passenger because of the route’s proximity to the Highway and the constant view of the hairpin turn on Highway 20. The Passenger’s neighbor, The Hitchhiker, establish by Burdo more the ten years later, derives its name from the same theme. The name The Passenger was also inspired by a song Burdo liked at the time. After climbing The Passenger, Burdo changed his opinion about establishing climbs. Though he spent a lot of work cleaning and equipping The Passenger, he produced a classic that everyone loved and he decided all climbs should be at a similar quality standard. The Passenger was also one of the earliest routes where Burdo used a roto-hammer. Now he is, of course, famous for establishing hundreds and hundreds of sport routes in the state, especially at exit 32, exit 38 and around Mazama.

Strategy

This route is more famous than it is climbed. The 5.12- grade is slightly misleading. While it is difficult and sustained, it mostly sustained in the 5.10+-5.11a/b range with short 5.12- and 5.11c sections. The 5.12a crux is a 3-4 move V5 boulder problem with a bolt at your head. The 5.11c Pitch 2 is also ... [full history for SuperTopo members only!]

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