Welcome to the first of hopefully many columns in the Squamish Chief devoted to rock climbing in beautiful Squamish. My goal is to bring you stories about new climbing routes, the people behind the scenes, impressive ascents, and climbing culture.
Firstly, I would like to introduce myself. My name is Jamie Finlayson and I have lived my entire life in the Sea to Sky region. Almost 20 years ago I was introduced to climbing and have been a passionate climber ever since. Over the past few years I have really devoted myself to climbing and have been able to conquer some excellent routes throughout the Sea to Sky, but I have also tried my best to give back by volunteering on the board of directors for the Climbers Access Society of B.C. and on the Smoke Bluffs Park Advisory Committee. Squamish is a special place and I feel it is important to keep it that way. Getting involved is a great way to do your bit in protecting what we have.
Over the past 20 years, Squamish has morphed into a world-renowned climbing destination, receiving thousands of international visitors each year. On any given day in the summer you can meet people from all corners of the globe and the Chief campground becomes a gypsy-like colony of travellers. People come to climb the pristine granite cracks on the Chief, the moss-covered boulders that litter the forest floor below the Chief, and the technical and mind-bending sport climbing that challenge even the best climbers in the world.
Squamish is often in the international spotlight and many of Canada’s top climbers call Squamish home. The local talent pool seems endless and there are many climbers pushing the limits, both in Squamish and globally. The climbing community is very active in developing new climbs and over the past few years there has been a massive amount of new route development.
Not everyone is a professional climber; that is the amazing thing about climbing — there is a lot of variety. A route that is hard for one person might be easy for someone else. Squamish may have many challenging routes but there are even more moderate routes, for all ages and abilities. Smoke Bluffs Park is the perfect example, offering challenges for everyone; there’s also the Cheakamus Canyon, which is home to some of the hardest routes in Canada, on the Big Show wall, which literally hangs over some easier climbs. There is really something for everyone here.
The sport of climbing is growing incredibly fast, not only in the Lower Mainland but also on a global scale. I read a statistic, from Outside magazine, that 1,000 people a day are trying climbing for the first time in the United States. I have noticed a tremendous increase of climbers in Squamish over the past 10 years. It is great to see that Squamish has emerged as an international climbers’ paradise and is considered Canada’s Mecca for climbing.
Jamie Finlayson is a professional rock climber and co-owner of Coastal Mountain Custom Homes. For information about the company, visit www.cmchomes.ca, or see his climbing blog at jamiefinlayson.weebly.com/blog.html.
