Gord McArthur Sends Difficult Project At Lakit Lake

Gord McArthur is best known for being a top international competitive mixed climber, but during the summer “off season,” he spends his time sans-tools at his local crag: Lakit Lake.

Lakit Lake is one of the many crags around Cranbrook, B.C. where McArthur is based. As the author of the guidebook to the East Kootenays, an area with more climbing than most people realize, he’s well informed on what’s been done and what needs to be climbed.

New Routes East Kootenays 2015

One of his longest running summer projects was as much about a mental journey as the technical difficulties. After a number of years of working away at it, McArthur finally sent Redneck Rampage 5.13c this spring.

McArthur has recently published a blog about the send, which focuses on his connection to the route and the process of sending.

“No matter the grade or location or style or when we experience success, it always takes us right to the core. The efforts that get put forth and the time spent all gets bundled up into a feeling that can only be defined when you’re up there clipping the anchor. It’s a personal result that gives you reason to keep failing and to keep falling and to keep trying because you just never know when everything will come together into a moment of perfection.” -Gord McArthur

Recently, McArthur has been climbing in Wyoming’s Ten Sleep with the young B.C. mixed comp climbers Karlee Hall and Noah Beek.