July 7, 2011 – Squamish Grades Continue to Drop with Frimer’s Latest Route
Jeremy Frimer's new route adds to the growing number of new moderate climbs being established in Squamish.
Jeremy Frimer’s new route adds to the growing number of new moderate climbs being established in Squamish.
Report by Jeremy Frimer
Given the rating 5.8, A2, Forked Flume is a 2-pitch bush-bash/nail-up testpiece near Shannon Falls in Squamish. Legends Dick Culbert and Mike Warr made the first ascent in 1967 on a “grimy” day. Over the winter of 2010-2011, Squamish route developer Jeremy Frimer unearthed Forked Flume and added three new pitches, naming the full route Skywalker. During the 9-month cleaning process, while cutting through a branch with a hand saw, Frimer followed-through into his forearm arm, severing his Extensor Policis Brevis tendon. Four weeks post-surgery, eight weeks before receiving the green light from health care practicioners, and arm still in a splint, Frimer returned to finish the job. With the help of a number of friends, the route was finally clean on June 5, 2011. Frimer racked up with hardman, John Anderson, for the first free ascent. “Pasting my left foot on a microscopic smear, I was able to get the needed no-hands stance to move my one useful arm past the crux fingerlock. It was desperate,” said Frimer of the big send. Skywalker goes at hard 5.8.