September 22, 2010 – Trotter’s Intrepid Traverse

Sonnie Trotter, one of Canada’s most talented rock climbers, last Friday in Squamish climbed what is likely the hardest route to the top of The Chief. Intrepid Traverse 5.13c starts with a pitch of 5.10a fingers-to-hands crack climbing followed by a thin 5.11d pitch with technical stemming. The action starts on the long bouldery third pitch, which clocks in at 5.13a, and is capped with a final technical crux pitch on sharp crimps and shallow monos that weighs in at 5.13c. The four-pitch line is unique because it traverses approximately 200 feet.

“I’ve been working the line for six months, just cleaning it and equipping it took 10 days because of its huge traversing nature,” says Trotter.

Trotter worked the route for three days with Paul Bride and Marc Leclerc and Jeremy Blummel.

Intrepid Traverse is located on the Prow Wall, which is the south-facing sheet of granite above the south gully.