B.C. Access: Marble Canyon Parking and Grand Wall Closure
A number of routes and boulders are closed in Squamish due to rockfall on the weekend
It’s rock climbing season, which means Canadian access groups will be busy working to educate new climbers on how to be a good steward of the land, while securing access to climbing areas.
Marble Canyon: Regarding the gravel pullouts along the side of Highway 99 in Marble Canyon Provincial Park. Now that recreational travel within BC is open again, there are plenty of people heading up to Marble Canyon to climb on the towering limestone walls on various multi-pitch routes (rightfully so – it’s a beautiful climbing destination). There have been reports of concerns of people parking overnight or camping on the gravel roadside pullouts along Highway 99. Please be aware that there is no overnight parking or camping allowed at these areas.
Being an isolated area, there are a limited number of sites available at the only nearby campground, which likely has contributed to this. If you’re sleeping in your vehicle, the wonderful park operator, Birgit (pronounced: Beer-get), is happy to accommodate more people overnight in the day-use lots for the standard camping fee. The Ministry of Transportation has the power to restrict parking along these roads entirely (including for day use), so please be sure to abide by their rules to ensure our continued access to this area.
Grand Wall Closure: As a result of the rockfall on Sunday, BC Parks are temporarily closing the Grand Wall route, some climbs at the base, and some boulders on the slope below the wall. It is likely that the areas affected will change as BC Parks assess the hazard, and we will update the community accordingly. Closures will be in place until geotechs assess the area and check for any other immediate danger. It is possible that the flake that broke off has dislodged other rock which could easily come down the wall due to the heat, wind or other disturbances. As of today, there was still a small amount of debris coming down the wall intermittently. Although rockfall is an ever-present hazard of climbing, this incident was particularly dangerous and the debris passed through multiple popular routes. It is likely that anyone in the path would have been severely injured or killed, judging by the damage on and at the base of the wall.
Closure boundaries, right and left (shown in image 2): Arrowroot marks the right-hand extent of the closure, and is still open. It should be approached on the Freeway trail through the Titanic bouldering area, and absolutely not along the Grand Wall trail. The Grand Wall trail is right in the line of the rockfall. The left-hand side of the closure is a little unclear right now. University Wall and Seasoned in the Sun are possibly outside of the danger area, but are approached along the Grand Wall trail. This access is not possible right now, so unless you can approach from the left side of the routes, please steer clear. Popular multipitch routes and single pitch routes at the base affected by the closure (not exhaustive): Grand Wall/Mercy Me Cruel Shoes Exasperator Flake Escape Ledges Apron Strings
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