Marc-Andre Leclerc Climbs New Hard West Coast Mixed

Canada’s West Coast has had a good ice/mixed season so far. Marc-Andre Leclerc has climbed two new hard mixed routes near Hope, B.C. The first is in the Superheroes Cirque and is called Dr. Octopus WI7 M5, which is named for the “tentacles” of ice that drip down. Leclerc climbed it with Tim Nielson, who he had climbed two other new routes in the area a few days before: Antifreeze M6- 30m and Venom WI6+ 30m.

Starting up the FA of 'Venom' WI6+ at the Superheroes Cirque near Hope, B.C. An interesting and demanding pitch. #arcteryx #lyofood #dmmclimbing

A photo posted by Marc-Andre Leclerc (@mdre92) on Dec 14, 2016 at 7:35pm PST

The other hard line is called the Gizzardgulper M8 WI4+ 70m, which Leclerc climbed with Matt Skenazy. Leclerc was the only one who climbed the crux pitch. It is left of Janice Ales above the Trans Canada near the Peters Road exit in Hope. “Great mixed route, with four bolts and three fixed pins on the crux pitch,” said Leclerc. “The final fixed angle can be clipped after gaining the ice and protects the leader in the event of the dagger snapping.”