Breaking News: Another Huge Rockfall, Caution Urged in Squamish

Another big rockfall occurred late last night in Squamish. Locals are reporting hearing a huge collapse on or around The Chief. We received a photo of the damage from Anthony Walsh, check out the destruction below.

Squamish-based Scott Milton is one of Canada’s most accomplished climbers. When asked if he heard the rockfall, he said, “Yup. I live right below it! Shook the house.”

The Squamish Access Society is warning people to use caution if they’re going climbing today. “We have received reports of another rockfall-reportedly in the North Walls area of The Chief. Please exercise caution with A.M. climbing plans until we can provide more details as the impacted area is likely outside the existing closure areas.”

There are currently a number of closed areas on The Chief due to rockfall throughout this summer. In June, there was a rockfall on the Grand Wall, in early July there was one on Photophobia Buttress, and later in July there was a massive one far right of the Grand Wall.

There was a huge rockfall in the North Walls in 2015, the noise was heard throughout Downtown. “The damage is monumental,” said Paul McSorley who was new-routing on the North Walls a few days earlier back in 2015. “There was rockfall while we were up there, and we thought someone was throwing rocks.” The rockfall left a number of established pitches damaged.

Earlier this year, Squamish climber Matt Maddaloni said, “Talk about humbling. Several first ascents of mine have been decimated by rockfall in the past few years. Some of my favourite and cherished lines like Yukon Gold and Chilkoot Pass near Northern Lights and now the Black Dyke. Glad to be alive and kicking but let me tell you my perspective on the ‘forever in stone’ of rock is a bit shattered. Pun intended. Be careful out there.” As Squamish historian Anders Ourom said, “It’s not so much what just fell – it’s what else may be waiting. I’ve always wondered how the ‘recess’ (depression?) between Black Dyke and Zodiac Wall formed. It’s quite inset.”

We’ll provide more information about today’s rockfall once it’s available.