Sonnie Trotter Climbs Hard New Route on Castle Mountain

Sonnie Trotter sent

his new route on Castle Mountain on Labour Day Weekend. He named the route Castles in the Sky. The route is five pitches. Trotter graded it 5.14a. He had worked on the route sporadically over the summer. The route climbs a dolomite prow on the lower band of Castle. The first and last couple of pitches are moderate and the steep business is in the middle. Trotter established the route with Sam Eastman from Toronto, the 17- year-old crusher who spent his summer in the Rockies. Oregon-based photographer Ben Moon spent a number of days helping with the route. Moon was a key member of the Butt Face, the 5.9 Squamish Buttress var iation, a few years ago. On a few occasions Sam Lambert, the young Rockies sender, belayed Trotter on attempts.