Squamish, BC will host the 2019 Arc’Teryx Climbing Academy this weekend from Aug. 22nd-25th, 2019.
All events and seminars are free but for some you need to sign up beforehand.

This years academy will feature talks from Mina Caprez, Lynn Hill, Ines Papert and Luka Lindic, Jonathan Siegrist, and Quentin Roberts. See full schedule here.

Here are the links for tonights live feed of the 2019 Hachioji Combined Event – Olympic Qualifiers – Men.

We are pleased to announce that both Sean McColl (6) and Alannah Yip (14), after a hard fought week of competition in the three disciplines of Bouldering, Lead and Speed, have qualified for the Olympic Combined Event that will determine the top seven athletes that will the qualify to complete in the Olympics next year.

Photo courtesy of Shane Murdoch ©

Keep in mind that the Combined event next week will have athletes completing all three disciplines in a single day. These athletes will go through this process once to qualify for finals with the top eight moving forward and completing the process all over again!

After that, the top seven athletes will be qualify for the Olympics, with a max-quota of two for each country, meaning that if the quota is filled, the next athlete in the final ranking from a different country will move forward.

We are pleased to announce that Graham McGrenere has made an ascent of Sonnie Trotter’s Battle Of Evermore (5.14a). The elusive climb sits high above the hill just after Furry Creek and has seen very little ascents.

A Day in Rocklands” features Daniel, Giuliano, Shawn, and Jimmy climbing in Rocklands, South Africa.

The Squamish Access Society has just posted the following:

Starting in the second week of August, a film company will be preparing for filming on Conroy FSR at Cheakamus Canyon. The area they are applying to occupy is north of the main parking lot.

They are in the process of asking for permission to close the Conroy FSR beyond the camp site area to vehicle traffic from approximately August 7 – 30 so that they can establish their set and rehearse their stunts. Please note, they are willing to work with the public, campers and hikers and they will work to ensure there will be full access to all climbing areas and campsites in the park at all times except when the camera is rolling. They have offered a type of shuttle service to anyone who would like to reach the Outpost where the road is temporarily blocked.

Parking notes: In order to maintain the safety and security of the crew working, they have asked to park some essential vehicles: paramedics, a water truck, washrooms and portable power plant in the main parking lot. Their crew will be parking off site. In the event that the park experiences more traffic than usual, they would like to offer additional public parking with shuttle service off site throughout the duration of their stay. Please see production assistants for maps and directions.

This film production would like the public to know how important it is for them to build connections to the Squamish Access Society and climbing community as well as to foster a cooperative relationship with all visitors of Chek Canyon. They have implemented a Community Outreach Programme which includes hiring local climbers and campers who will be visible and open to addressing any questions or concerns you may have. They are happy to accommodate any special or particular needs you may have and would love to hear suggestions on how to make this experience a success for all.

We are very sad to announce that a prominent member of the Squamish climbing community died Sunday after falling on lead while climbing on the Stawamus Chief.

According to local sources, the climber and his partner were on the last pitch of Parallel Passages when a perched block came loose, sending him on a substantial lead fall, hitting the terrain below and sustaining major injuries.

A two-party team climbing in the same area responded to the distress calls of his partner and rapped down to the location where the climber had fallen. They were able to help safely lower the climber to a lower ledge and provided CPR until Squamish Search and Rescue could reach the area.

A Squamish Search and Rescue helicopter and team was despatched immediately. Effort were also made to reach the team from the bottom by friends of the climber. Due to the overhanging nature of the area, SARS was unable to get a long line safely into the section of wall where the injured climber was situated and then insert an eight person rope rescue team on to Astro Ledge where they rapped down into the lower ledge to provide support to the fallen climber.

All efforts possible were made by Squamish Search and Rescue and the adjoining parties to save the climber but the injuries sustained in the fall were too substantial and he later died at the scene of the fall. A long line was eventually used to lift the climber out of the area.

Special thanks to those in the community who came to support the rescue efforts and to the Squamish Search and Rescue team, who tirelessly volunteer their time to saving those who have had the misfortune of accidents in our mountains.

Update:This article was updated to include that efforts were made to reach the team from the bottom by friends of the climber and that a long line was eventually used to lift the climber out of the area.