Lion’s Head Above the Clouds 5.13 Gets Second Ascent

Ontario’s Leslie Timms has reported about the second ascent of her Lion’s Head route Above the Clouds. “It just got its second ascent/first male ascent,” said Timms. “It’s been attempted by a few folks now and it’s cool to see it finally go down.” Jonathan Shen sent it on Sun. Aug. 31. “Looking like the grade may settle in around 5.13a/b,” said Timm. “The send took him four or five days of effort and he crushed a couple other 5.13bs at the cliff a lot quicker.” Timms had graded the esthetic line 5.13a, this would be one of the few times a route is upgraded at Ontario’s premiere by-the-lake crag.

The first half of Above the Clouds is a route called Stratus Fear and goes at 5.12d on gear. It was first climbed in 2013 by Dave Zuly. After Timms’ send in 2013 of Above the Clouds, she wrote, “When I started up the route I somehow knew that it would be my last trip on the this wild climb. I soaked in the rests and the views, I embraced each move, I enjoyed the ride. When I pulled the final lip, I got to live that moment that I dreamed about all summer. I screamed from the top of my lungs into the amphitheatre below me, my cheers bounced off the walls below, echoing into the distance.”