Lucas Uchida Sends Sword in the Stone V14 in Squamish
The Ethan Salvo problem features a series of strength-zapping moves before a giant lunge to the lip
Photo by: Lucas Uchida
On June 16, Canadian climber Lucas Uchida made the second ascent of Sword in the Stone V14 in Squamish. Established by Ethan Salvo in October last year, the problem was originally known as the Excalibur Project. It starts to the right of the future classic Merlin V12, ending as for that problem.
“I was lucky to find a great post-rain window to get this Ethan Salvo line done today on a solo mission out,” said Uchida on Instagram. “Sword is a boulder unlike many in Squamish; rather than moving through subtle features, it has very clear holds and a large variety of options available. It will be cool to see all the variations of beta that come out of this boulder as more people try it.”
Uchida is one of Canada’s strongest climbers. In Squamish, he’s repeated many of the town’s hardest lines, including Dreamcatcher 5.14d, The Singularity V15, Zazen V15, Deadlift V14, Room Service Low V14, The Megg V14, and North North Ridge V14, among others. He’s also established a few Squamish problems of his own: Seven V14/15 and Offenders of the Faith V13.
While on a short trip to Colorado last summer, he repeated Ode to the Modern Man V14 and To Your Scattered Bodies Go V14. In Bishop this winter, he sent a flurry of classic V13s, including Spectre, The Swarm, The Mandala Sit, and Buttermilker.
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