North Walls Trail Adopt-a-Crag Oct 17

[Optimally-Primed]

BC Parks and CASBC are looking for volunteers for an Adopt-a-Crag---to help improve a trail to and along the base of the North Walls of the Chief.

Date: Sunday, October 17th
Time: 10:00am
Meeting Location: Apron Parking Lot
Materials: The CASBC/SAS tool cache has plenty of clippers, shovels, and mattocks to go around. Come clothed for the weather.
Questions/Comments: Jeremy Frimer, jfrimer@access-society.ca

Description of the Project: The North Walls are home to some of the great climbs of Squamish, including Alaska Highway/The Calling, Astrologger, New Life, Gone Surfing, and many others. The trail, which begins near the base of Angel's Crest, is in need of some maintenance. The goal of this Adopt-a-Crag is to both improve access to existing climbs and to encourage route development in this vastly untapped but high-potential area.

(Some photos of North Walls new routing potential up at http://www.access-society.ca/)

[marc_leclerc]

Yeah man, I'd be down to help. Seeing as I go here ALL the time working my new route anyways, might as well help improve the trail!

[scrubber]

I'm in!

[scrubber]

Shoot! I'm out of town. Sorry.

[Optimally-Primed]

JJ Bean has donated coffee for 20 for the event! CASBC is picking up some muffins to fuel up the volunteers. And word on the street is that a new 6 or 7 pitch 5.8 route up the Astro Ledge will be ready to go by spring. This trail will provide the access. Come sneak a preview in person as we work on the trail.

[marc_leclerc]

Sweet! There is also a SICK line going up to the right of AK Highway that will also go to the ledge.....

[5.4 Slayer]

I'm in.

Where are we meeting?

I'm coming from Surrey, anyone need a ride?

[crimptacular]

Meet at the Apron parking lot @ 10am.

[Optimally-Primed]

In collaboration with BC Parks (Katy Chambers, Senior Park Ranger), CASBC organized 8 volunteers for a trail-building day at the base of the North Walls of the Chief. Below the walls was a rough or non-existent trail. After 6 hours of hard work, the crew succeeded in making a pleasant trail from the North Gully all the way to New Life (passing Astrologger, Alaska Highway, other routes, and much potential for future development). Thanks to everyone who came out and to BC Parks for their leadership. Also, a big thanks to Bean Around the World (Brackendale) for supplying the crew with hot coffee, and to MEC and Blurr for supplying "door" prizes!

Asrologger and Alaska Highway

[squamish climber]

Great work everyone. Thanks Jeremy, CASBC and BC Parks for making this happen.

I think we're going to see the North Walls continue to grow in popularity so it's nice to get this trail work done.

Does anybody have any photos of the new moderate climb going in?

What is the approach time for these climbs?

Dave

[c-plus]

great work everyone. sorry I couldn't make it!

-Cyrus

[Anders Ourom]

A fast party might get there in 15 minutes, but many will take up to a half hour. There's not much work left to finish the trail to the base of North North Arete, as well as the continuation leading into the gully and so to Astro Ledge. (I believe many NN Arete parties don't bother with the lower brushy bit, and start at Astro.) It may make sense then to flag a route straight down, parallel to the runout from North North Gully, down to the road. Much of the usage will be parties going to NN Arete, and a direct approach might be quicker. Maybe it should even be a sort of mini-loop trail.

A good time was had by all - thanks to the organizers!

[dirty]

Hey, thanks for your efforts folks!!
Appreciated.

[Dru]

What kind of trail cleaning surprises is Anders carrying in that sporty purse?

[Optimally-Primed]

Yeah Anders, why the make-up and lipstick for a trail building day?

Here's a photo from Angel's Crest. Alaska Highway goes through the horizontal roof in the foreground. Just about all of the rock in the background is untapped. The new 5.8 goes up it.


Beyond that low angle area is another steep area. As far as I know, there are no existing routes in this area... or if any existed, they are grown over. This photo was taken mid-winter, with ice around.