PLANET X

Steep Alberta Crag and its Newest 5.14

Planet X is a steep crag in Cougar Creek north of Canmore in the Bow Valley. The X is meant to be the roman numeral for ten, but the crag’s name is certainly pronounced as “planet x” and is one of the Rockies more popular hard route zones. Top climber Jon Siegrist once described the climbing as no-hold, compression moves up a wall that looks like there are only bolts and no features. There are big moves between small holds and side pulls through stepped roofs.

There are a number of 5.12s, 5.13s and 5.14s, which reserves the wall for more experienced sport climbers looking for projects, but there are over 100 routes between 5.8 and 5.10 on the approach up the canyon. Even on rainy days, you’ll find