BC Parks announced Friday that they have been in the process of creating a new app to address the growing need for a scheduling service on popular multi-pitch routes in and around the Stawamus Chief during the summer.
The announcement comes in response to a survey sent out by the Squamish Access Society earlier this year to determine what is bothering climbers in the Sea to Sky Region. The biggest complaint: ‘Multi-pitch line ups on the Stawamus Chief’.
It has been a problem for ages. You wake up at 8 am in the parking lot of the Stawamus Chief on a Saturday morning in Squamish, BC during the summer, decide to have a late breakfast and the head out on the Grand Wall trail only to find yourself waiting in line at the bottom of the Grand Wall behind two or three parties, some of who are climbing for the very first time.
“Last summer I had to wake up before 7:30 am just to get on Diedre and there was already a party en-route” , said climber Jimmy Benton, “I’m new to climbing but these line ups are getting ridiculous”.
The days of lining up may be behind us thanks to the quick thinking of Danny Guestien who works for SimpleLife, an app developer based out of Vancouver, BC.
“In partnership with BC Parks, we have released an app this week that will allow climbers from all over the world to book a time on the popular multi-pitch routes on the Stawamus Chief” said Geustien. “It has been happening in the golf world for years and it is about time that it made its way to climbing”.
The new app, aptly names ‘BC Book a Climb’ is currently available on android platforms only and allows climbers to sign up for multi-pitch climbs in 30 minute slots any day of the week from May 1st to Sept. 30th during the climbing season. Users will be required to enter only an email address confirming their identity and then pick an available time they want to climb. Once the required information is complete, they will receive a confirmation email and then no longer have to worry about not getting on the route they desire.
“During the testing of the app, we only had three scheduling conflicts that did result in physical altercation but I think we figured out what was happening” said Guestien
“I believe climbers will be respectable about the times and who goes first” said local climber Marty Tinswell, “If I encounter a party who has not signed up, I feel the comfort in knowing I just need to show them my email confirmation and I am good to go!”
According to Tinswell, he downloaded the app just yesterday and now has a time booked for the July 1st weekend on the ’Grand Wall via Apron Strings’ starting at 8 am.
Squamish Climbing Magazine contacted BC Parks Liaison Sarah Murphy for comment on the the app.“Frankly, we a tired of it! Climbers are constantly complaining about the line ups in park and we just couldn’t handle the calls anymore. We would often politely suggest they get up earlier if they want to climb a particular route but you should have heard the push back and the profanities.” noted Murphy, “To be honest, it started to become a Work Safe BC issue for us at the park and we had to insulate our employees from the abuse”
“It’s just sad to see climbers waiting for hours at the bottom of these routes, baking in the sun, most likely without sunscreen and water.” said part time ranger Jack Fraser, “If I wanted to watch another season of ‘Survivor’, I would rather see it on TV!”
“As a user group, I would say they are one of the most unorganized out there and that is why they need this app. As a social service, we are almost obligated to give this group some sort of structure they can live by. Climbers and Golfers alike, we all need a little structure in our lives.”
Time will tell whether the app service is an effective approach to wait times at the Stawamus Chief but one thing can be certain, as a climbing community, we will all now be sleeping in later than ever!
