It all started with a post by Kris Wild on my thread “Squamish photos and stories” about his new scrub, Hanging Gardens.
Back to Hanging Gardens. I finished it today and installed the anchors. All the fixed lines are down and it's ready for your enjoyment. Remember if you're looking at the McLane guide, the route is reversed with it's neighbor Overhanging Gardens.
The first pitch is completely new. It just looked a lot better and more direct than the original start which diagonaled in from 30m to the right. It's very easy to find. As you walk across the base of the Papoose, It's the first clean line you get to on the left. The detritus of route excavation will be quite visible on the ground. The route is comprised of predominantly 5.8 to 5.9 crack climbing, interspersed with short, technical face climbing cruxes.
The first pitch is completely new. It just looked a lot better and more direct than the original start which diagonaled in from 30m to the right. It's very easy to find. As you walk across the base of the Papoose, It's the first clean line you get to on the left. The detritus of route excavation will be quite visible on the ground. The route is comprised of predominantly 5.8 to 5.9 crack climbing, interspersed with short, technical face climbing cruxes.
[Click to View Linked Image]
p1. Follow diagonal finger cracks left across the wall until you can step to a higher ledge system, then exit right on thin face moves past a bolt. Belay on the right end of the large ledge below the corner. 30m, 5.10b
Visit on staticflickr.com
p2. Up the left facing corner, stepping left past a bolt into another shallow corner. Belay at the base of a V groove that angles to the right. 28m, 5.10c
Visit on staticflickr.com
p3. Up the groove, then back left in an awkward corner protected by a single bolt at the beginning. Above this the angle and difficulty ease considerably. Trend generally straight up past enjoyable face climbing to the top. 30m, 5.10b
To decend, either walk into the forest on the left and down the trail, or do three raps with a single 60m rope. There are slings/cords on the anchors right now. They'll be replaced with chains next week sometime.
Enjoy!
Kris
To decend, either walk into the forest on the left and down the trail, or do three raps with a single 60m rope. There are slings/cords on the anchors right now. They'll be replaced with chains next week sometime.
Enjoy!
Kris
So Luke decided he wanted the SFA. He posted the next morning looking for a partner and then called me and Kyle. He said it was nice but the weather was moving in fast, so we had better get down there. I called Kyle and he said he had some chores to take care of first, but he would try and be quick about it. I met him in the village and we headed to Squamish to pick up Luke.
On our way it started to spit and the skies looked as if they were going to open. When we got to Luke’s house it was raining. He said he still wanted to go do Hanging Gardens. I said “Its raining dude it’s gonna be wet.” He says “This isn’t rain! It’s just spittin! Let’s go check it out.”
So we did. When we parked near the Papoose, it was raining even harder. Kyle had his doubts, and so did I but Luke was ever enthusiastic. He said “let’s just go take the gear for a walk and have a look!”
We cruised up the new trail, which is pretty nice compared to the old one. After about 10 minutes we encountered the large dirt pile Kris talks about. The route indeed was somewhat wet, but didn’t look totally unmanageable and the upper pitches looked quite dry.
Luke: With consistence and persistence I managed to lure Mike and Kyle down to climb with me. I suggested we hit the recently cleaned Hanging Gardens as to nab the 2nd free ascent. SEVERAL hours later they arrived to pick me up, it was raining quite a bit so I ran back in the house to grab my etriers and hooks.
When we arrived and the base off the Papoose, it seemed as though Kyle thought we were just "takin the gear for a walk" and didn't want his cams to get dirty. I told him they don't stay new for ever and racked up.
Visit on staticflickr.com
Luke wanted the first pitch so he racked up and I belayed while Kyle took photos. He found the lower traverse fairly easy in his Camp 4’s but once he got to the bolt he called for his rock shoes on the tag line. He tried the move a bit then called for the etrier. “There goes the Second Free Ascent” I said!
Visit on staticflickr.com
Visit on staticflickr.com
The move to get to the anchor was a bit moist so Luke ended up crossing a wet, mossy ledge to get there.
Luke: I started up the easy, but wet cracks to a short bolt protected 5.10 slab section. After a couple failed attempts at free climbing though the moistness, I hauled up an etrier and top-stepped past the crux then meandered my way up the anchors.
Visit on staticflickr.com
I tried the move at the bolt several different ways but it was too moist and I couldn’t get any friction so I used the etrier.
Visit on staticflickr.com
When I got to the belay Luke asked me if I was going to lead the next pitch. “Let me look at it.” As soon as I looked up I started grabbing gear and Luke asked if I’d brought the Grigri. I said yes, and he proposed that I climb the next pitch while he auto-belayed Kyle. I agreed and started up the pitch.
[Click to View Linked Image]
It was excellent jamming for my largish mitts and I felt pretty secure on it. When I got to the bolt I tried the move a bunch but Luke kept yelling at me to aid it, so I grabbed the draw and bypassed the crux. (Going back for sure!) The last bit was pretty mellow and I arrived at the belay quickly.
Visit on staticflickr.com
Luke: Mike danced up the easy corner until another bolt-protected wet slab crux… This one was a traverse move over to another crack system. He contemplated the moves while I encouraged him to aid past it instead of wasting valuable rubber slipping and sliding on the wet slab.
Me: I was able to belay both guys at the same time on my guide, so I brought Luke up a bit first and then started belaying Kyle’s rope.
Visit on staticflickr.com
Luke followed cleanly in his approach shoes, but also frenched the bolt.
Visit on staticflickr.com
Kyle styled most of the pitch but was confounded at the bolt like the rest of us.
Visit on staticflickr.com
I managed to do a half decent job of stacking the rope but we still had to flake it again for the next pitch. When Kyle arrived I asked him if he was going to lead the next pitch and he gave me the same reply I gave Luke before. Once he looked at it, he was excited.
Luke: The next crack system goes up some rattle finger locks in a shallow corner up a ways to the belay.
By the time we all got to the second belay both Mike and Kyle were considerably more stoked and optimistic about being on the rock despite the mild drizzle. We got the two ropes nicely flaked and started up the finicky groove into the awkward-looking bolt protected, slanted corner.
Visit on staticflickr.com
Once he got a decent piece in the groove he headed for the bolt; which was perfectly placed for him to clip.
Visit on staticflickr.com
He had a bit of trouble at the bolt, and almost came off but managed to hold on.
[Click to View Linked Image]
Sweet undercling moves after the crux.
Visit on staticflickr.com
I followed cleanly, found it awkward at the bolt as well, but fun. I clipped Luke’s rope on the way up.
Visit on staticflickr.com
Luke: Kyle managed his way through without too much trouble and proceeded to finish the pitch. Mike followed the awkwardness without much difficulty. I, on the other hand, got sideways in there for some reason with my back to the rock and my feet pushing ungracefully on the arête, the slanting corner tried its best to spit me out, but I fought gravity with my grovel skills and before ya know it I was at the top.
Me: We had to do an extra pitch because Kyle stopped at a tree rather than going straight up to the bolts, so after Luke led and Kyle followed, I tied in short to my rope and joined the boys.
Visit on staticflickr.com
We celebrated safety style at the top and then rapped twice with two ropes.
This is a super fun route! Go send it!
