Boatswain 2: The Steepening is New 4-Pitch 5.13R in Rockies

Canmore climbers Zach Watson and Miles Adamson made the first ascent of a four-pitch route they bolted on Grotto Mountain earlier this year. Boatswain 2: The Steepening 5.13cR climbs steep limestone in the large amphitheatre east of Echo Canyon.

In 2017, Adamson and Watson made the first ascent of Don’t Rock the Boatswain, a six-pitch 5.13a in the same area. They bolted a final seventh pitch which Adamson and Alex Fricker freed last year at 5.14b.

“I can’t believe we actually sent it this year,” said Adamson about his 2019 bold line. “Overall it’s really wild. Multiple sections are super run-out, due to the rock being too bad to put bolts in. Other sections are amazing steep limestone.” Keep an eye out for a video on Adamson’s new YouTube channel Choss Media here.

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Boatswain 2: The Steepening – 13c/R. Zach and I have done the FA of the route we multipitch we bolted in the early season!! I can't believe we actually sent it this year. It was maybe the last nice day Zach and I would both have off. The route is 4 pitches, 5.7, 5.13c/R, 5.13a/R, and 5.12c. Overall it's really wild. Multiple sections are super run out, due to the rock being too bad to put bolts in. Other sections are amazing steep limestone. The dichotomy of choss… an adventure route. The route still had my 200m static line and 2 other roles fixed. We cleaned it all and carried everything out in the dark. 40 draws, 410m of rope. My main pack was 70 litres of just rope, and both Zach and I had our bullet bags full, attached to the outside of our main bags. I'm destroyed. I have a lot of video to sort through, but can maybe get something put together by the weekend.

A post shared by Miles Adamson (@miles_adamson) on Sep 15, 2019 at 8:39am PDT

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Zach and I sent! We're naming it "Don't Rock the Boatswain." A boatswain is a platform you can hang to stand on when there is no belay ledge. The entire route we bolted on lead, mostly from free stances. Six pitches: 11c, 13a, 12c, 12b, 12b, 12a. The 25 days or so we put into this route was spread over the course of the last 5 years. The massive roof which im hanging off of we bolted, but are leaving as an open project at 14c at least. If completed it would be the hardest multipitch is canada by far.

A post shared by Miles Adamson (@miles_adamson) on Sep 3, 2017 at 4:12pm PDT