Gripped

Sea to Sky Rock Climbs

- By Jimmy Martinello

Chris Weldon and Nichol Sheppard climbing Andrew Boyd’s new route Zanadrew at Howe Sound

The Sea to Sky Corridor is one of the most spectacula­r and adventurou­s places on the planet and it has some amazing climbs. Mountains rising from the ocean, coastal rainforest and enough rock climbing for a lifetime. The Chief, being worldrenow­ned, often lures climbers to its steep faces, but when you look around and begin to explore around Squamish, there’s a lot of great climbing waiting to be had.

From the smooth, clean granite of the sea cliffs of the Howe Sound and the golden granite of Anvil Island, to Squamish Paradise Valley and the Cheakmus River corridor, you can then head north to the enchanted Nairn Falls and Green River walls and boulders.

It’s getting busier on the West Coast, but you just need to be a little more creative to find the solitude you’re looking for. So grab a paddle board, tyrolian across a river, hike high into the alpine and be sure to get up early, stay out late, get off the beaten track and find that hidden gem you don’t even know you’re looking for. Here are some of the gems that are important to me and the friends and family who find these remote places important. Get out there and have a good time.

American Jon Siegrist was fresh off making the second ascent of Spirit of the West 5.14a in Squamish when he teamed up with Caroline Jung for SUP Howe Sound climbing Brette Harrington and Bradford McArthur heard about Boyd’s new Whale’s Vein and headed out to repeat the splitter

Sail boat access climbing on Howe Sound Trevor McDonald on his new route Natural Mystic at Narin Falls while Tim Emmett belays Jung links small holds above Howe Sound following Siegrist

Jay and Mike at Suicide Bluffs in Pemberton north of Whistler. The locals have developed some five-star classics on the steep crags around this booming small town. Andrew Boyd, who was once one of Canada’s top West Coast climbers, on the first ascent of Whale’s Vein Climbing another great route above Howe Sound

Author Jimmy Martinello on a first ascent he called Into the Mystic at Nairn Falls

Photo

Gavin Duffel Siegrist on a new route put up by Trevor McDonald above the Cheakamus River

Ontario climber Leslie Timms climbing Into the Mystic at Narin Falls Siegrest sending the steep Klarified in Pemberton Siegrest on the second ascent, onsighting, Hostile Take Over 5.13c at Suicide Bluffs in Pemberton

McDonald climbing on Anvil Island

 ??  ?? Chris Weldon climbing on Boner Something Arete on a warm winter day. You can often climb above Howe Sound every month of the year.
Chris Weldon climbing on Boner Something Arete on a warm winter day. You can often climb above Howe Sound every month of the year.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Canada