Transitions from the Mountains to work, rock, school and back around again.

Mt Grenville

Well it has been along time since I wrote, I lost the excitement to write for the past while and today I felt inspired so here we go.

In May Fred Giroux went on our expedition into the Homathko Ice-Field and had a fun successful trip putting up 3 new lines on 3 different peaks.

Backcountry Pizza courtesy of Fred! Pretty sweet kitchen eh!?

Standing on the summit ridge of Grenville were we topped out our route Melquidas. It was a short walk to the summit from there. Photo by Fred Giroux

Our routes from the trip.
Melquidas AI4 M4+ 350m, Mt Grenville
Remedios the Beauty AI3 600m, Peak 9331
Macondo 5.10 600m, Galleon Peak

You can find the trip reports here:

https://gripped.com/news/lauchlan-award-2017-new-homathko-routes-climbed/
http://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/13201214444/Peak-9331-Northeast-Face-and-New-Routes-on-Mt-Grenville-and-Galleon-Peak

Also a huge thank you to the John Lauchlan Memorial Award and all there sponsors for helping make this trip possible!

http://www.johnlauchlanaward.com/pages/Main%20Pages/How%20to%20Apply.htm

After our trip I headed to Wyoming to work 2 NOLS course in the Wind River Range. On each trip we climbed a variety of rock snow and ice to make it to the summit of a number of mountains. Gannett Peak, Wyoming highest point, Nylon Peak, Mt Bonneville, Mt Warren, Doublet, & Dinwoody Peak.

I had the pleasure of working with Joe Frost, Galen Wilder and Chris Dickson and 23 students total. It was a wonderful summer working with these 3 great people. Chris and I worked 55 days in a row together and become wonder friends. Excited to connect with these people again soon! 

Teaching a Mountain Anatomy and Glaciology class Photo by Chris Dickson

Chris Dickson and I spent 55days in a row together this summer. That's along time and all I have to say is this human is rad and we forged a long lasting climbing partnership and friendship. Thanks buddy!! Here we're on the summit of Mt Bonneville.

Chris down climbing on the descent of Bonneville.

3 of our rads students climbing on Nylon Peak.

Climbing into the unknown on Bonneville Spire. We climbed what maybe a new 2 pitch 5.10 variation to the top of Bonneville Spire. Then linking it to the true summit of Bonneville for a total of 8 pitches. Photo by Chris Dickson

Audrey making it look easy on Nylon Peak!

Before leaving WY I got to climb at Wild Iris and a quick alpine rock route on the edge of the Cirque of the Towers. Chris, Galen and I climbed Black Elk on War Bonnett. One of the best alpine rock routes out there in my opinion!

War Bonnett Peak, Wind River Range WY

Chris and Galen climbing the steep splitters on Black Elk!

Galen on the crux pitch.... it gets wide!

Chris enjoying the view from up high in the Winds.

Good looking crew right there ;)

When work came to a close in WY I flow to the east coast to visit my lovely friend Kate Sirianni. We roamed around New Hampshire for a bit then bumped over into New Brunswick to visit my family before driving back to the west. Once back in WY Kate went to work a NOLS course and I ventured back to the coast for some Squamish granite.

It was great to roll into town and go climbing with some great friends Bryan Sexauer, Paul McSorley, Roger Yim, Fred Giroux, Greg Sinclair & Katie Oram. And also hang out and drink beers with numerous other awesome people!!

It wasn't long and my time on the coast come to a close and a new chapter was to be started. I had enrolled in a 13week Timber Framing Program at College of the Rockies in Cranbrook BC. There have been a number of different feelings that have pulsed through my body as I have been chiseling timbers in the East Kootenays. And honestly any feelings that had me wondering if I have chosen the right thing have disappeared:
1. The community of people I have meet here have been so warm and welcoming!
2. Timber Framing is really fun!
3. I'm working toward some of my personal goals.
4. There really is no real right thing in this cause, it seems to me that being present and having as much fun as you can is the most important. If you can do that life is pretty freaking awesome! At least it is for me right now!!

The climbing around Cranbrook is predominately sport climbing which is great because I have been pushing myself to try hard and project routes (something I haven't really done until now).

When I arrived in Cranbrook I headed to Arq Mountain Center and bought a 3 month membership to climb and train while I'm here. In the first 2 weeks I meet of few folks and got out climbing at a few of the local areas.

First it was Perry Creek. The climbing here is rad! We climbed on Baby Bum Wall. The climbing is steep & sustained polished rock with small seams and edges to pick your way up the routes. There are other crags at Perry with numerous routes for all abilities.

Noah working the moves out on a beauty 12a at Baby Bum Wall, Perry Creek.

Lakit Lake came second, which by the sounds of things is unusual when climbing around Cranbrook, because it it the spot! Lakit is steep and positive climbing with often big moves and decent holds. This is a classic sport climbing spot with routes from 5.10 to 5.13+.

Drew working the moves out on a 12c at Lakit Lake. Photo by Kate Sirianni

Noah red pointing at 12+ route at Lakit Lake.

Climbing the beauty stone at Lakit Lake. Photo by Kate Sirianni

Over the past month I have got to help out with the Arq Youth Climbing Team. This crew is awesome they are so fun andsupportive of each other it is an honor to work with them! Thanks Gord for letting me help out.

I also went on a Thanksgiving road trip to Skaha, another first. I'm sorry that I hadn't made it sooner! Skaha you're amazing! So excited to go back!

Heather working out the moves on a 12a at Muscle Beach, Skaha.

Ineke lets her feet go at Muscle Beach!

Gord working through the pump at Muscle Beach.

Needless to say I think this place is rad with exceptional people, great climbing and no crowds! Also a shout out to Arq Mountain Center for being a supportive, kind and fun climbing environment!
Check them out here:

http://arqmountaincentre.com/

With the weeks passing and the temps dropping I think of my sport climbing projects a Lakit and Perry and they seem distant..... my ice tools become more present. I cannot wait to scratch and swing my way up more spectacular mixed lines this winter. My eyes wonder to Fisher Peak and the Steeples that dominate the skyline on my walk to school. They have a healthy dusting of snow and are calling my name. Seems like I should listen!

Thanks so much to Drew Leiterman, Noah Beek, Heather Burrows, Marshall Burrows, Ineke Rhebergen, Gord McArthur & Kevin Martin for sharing ropes, road trips, laughs and good times! You all rock! I'm looking forward to many more!

Taking advantage of a Rainy Day!

Today it is raining, the freezing level cranked up to about 2000m, the snow is shit for the moment, the avalanche hazard is high and this warming has put ice climbing on hold.... on the positive this has started a pretty good avalanche cycle which "could" clean things up on some more avalanche prone climbs. Also it forces me to do life things like my laundry... exciting right?! Yeah I know clean sheets and underwear!! I'm also trying to do my taxes which doesn't seem to be working out but it will in the end I'm sure.

I've been posting pictures on insta-tweet-my-face for the past few months instead of writing. So you'll probably see a few of those photo's again but anyway it doesn't matter. On to the sharing of my life......

Cockoo's Nest! KHC.

I left the west coast in early February driving Gus over the numerous mountain passes to Golden BC. Here, I meet up with Fred Giroux, my climbing partner for what I think is a pretty rad trip to the BC Coast Mounatins in May! Our plan has been to climb and get ready for our trip!

Fred and I were awarded the John Lauchlan Memorial Award for 2017 by the Canadian Alpine Club. We're both extremely honoured to have receive this award!

Here is a little video about the award:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onXZAWR0958&feature=youtu.be

I also was enrolled in a 7 day Avalanche Operations Course for personal growth and development. I finished it last week. On that course I got to meet and go touring with some rad old/new friends.

Lovely Friends Maddie, Russel & Ryan!

Luke Spence rippin' at Mt. Pierce!

Russel flying... part way down Mushroom People, Asulkan Valley, Rogers Pass.

I little back ground on Fred and Myself:
1. We both love climbing!
2. Fred is a crusher!
3. I'm still learning how crush!
4. We're both from NB!

So Fred and I meet in Squamish 5 or 6 years ago when I parked by his van. Both with NB plates we chatted briefly and then went our ways. The next year I ran into him again at Strathcona Park Lodge when I was visiting. We chatted more about getting into the mountains but it never really worked out. Until now!

Fred climbing the second chimney on Cockoo's Nest. KHC

We have put in a number of super fun days out climbing multi-pitch mixed routes in Field, Kickhorse Canyon and the Icefields. Hopefully with this warming trend we can get some early spring alpine missions in before I have to head to work.

Cirus Cirus a fun 3 pitch WI4.

 

 

 

Fred cruising the M7 pitch on Asylum. KHC.

Fred on pitch 1 of Nasty Habits. Field.

Another strong onsight by Fred on the final M7 pitch of Nasty Habits.

Fred on Blob Blob Blob!

For those of you that don't know Fred he is ultra talented! His mental game is spot on, he can hold on for what seems like forever and is extremely humble! It is inspiring! So thanks Fred!

Fred on the lower pitches of Asylum. KHC

A little beta on our trip: We're heading up Bute Inlet (one of the longest & deepest fjords in the BC Coast Mountains) by boat the 3rd week of May to spend 18days in the mountains. We have a few objectives up there our main one being the Northeast face of Peak 9331.

Our BC Coast Mountain adventure is to climb this cool looking alpine face!

We are in the planning phase sorting out logistical things such as boats, potential gear/food drop, alpine climbing rack and how we can go as light as possible on our very bushy approach!

Homathko Ice Field with Peak 9331 on the left and 10,001ft Grenville to the right.

Some amazing news!! Fred and are a receiving support from Spirit West!

Spirit West is a Calgary born outdoor retail and clothing company. They handcraft all their clothing in house and also do custom fitting on technical clothing. They do loads of gear repair so if having high quality repairs and using your garments until they legitimately die is important to you this is where you should repair it!

http://spiritwest.myshopify.com/

For the next month there is going to be more planning, climbing and skiing for sure and I'm stoked! Though I'm off to work in late April it is still exciting as I'll be in Red Rock NV rock climbing for NOLS. So a little warm dry break before the Wet Coast Adventure is going to be nice! I'll make sure I bring my running shoes!

Be sure to check out my friends Russel Henry, Dave Mosley and Luke Spence adventure as they sea kayak and ski there way from Prince Rupert BC to Skagway AK starting April 1st!
https://www.paddlesandplanks.com/

Thanks to all the people that I've got to ski and climb with! You all rock!

Where Do You Find Home?

Sunset over the Waddington Range taken from the Homathko Ice-Field.

I recently watched the Arcteryx film "Crossing Home" and have been thinking about it since! It's about 2 skiers traveling through the BC Coast Mountains.

Check it out!!

https://vimeo.com/182970337

The question I've been contemplating is not where home is but where do you find home?

I often get the question "Where are you from?" or  "Where do you live?" and it's hard to answer these questions for me!

This is the usual answer - "I'm from New Brunswick but I live in my van or wherever I'm working" and that is often followed with - "So you don't have an address?" answer - "Well I have multiple" anyway you get where I'm going and if not that is totally fine, it is hard to explain!

Climbing "The Kraken" in Walton Glen Canyon in New Brunswick early this winter. Photo by Don Ricker

 

We all have a different place we call home and for me it is constant moving to be close or in the mountains. When I'm in the mountains I feel alive, happy and a since of being. Everything slows down the chaos of people, cars and all the technology are hidden in the distance and out of site! It's just you, your partners what's in your pack and the mountains! This is where I find home and I would recommend it to anyone!

Ryan Van Horne climbing during the FA of No Particular Morning or Evening WI3+ 90m on Vancouver Island.

I have spent one third of my time over the past few month skiing and climbing in and around the mountains of the BC Coast. Here are a few photo's of my adventures in the place where I find home.

Mike Loch skiing the steep and deep off the northwest ridge of Steep Peak.

Just look at the amazing view!

Ashlie Ferguson rippin the cold smoke of Vancouver Island with Mt Myra in the distance.

Dropping in the North Bowl of Mt. Myra Photo by Ashlie Ferguson

The friends you travel with in these places are special! Me and Mitch Harter with Mt Moyeha an numerous Island Alps in the distance. Photo by Ashlie Ferguson

If you're ever wondering where I am you can probably just guess I'm in the hills or close to them climbing, skiing or working!

Our simple little home in the hills! Not a bad view eh?

Thanks to the amazing BC Coast Mountains! The incredible people I get to share this amazing home with! It is most definitely a pleasure and a privilege.

Peak 9331 and the 10 001ft Mt. Grenville to its right.