Leclerc’s Big Squamish Link-Up

Marc-Andre Leclerc just forwarded us this message, he linked Grand Wall, Uncle Ben’s and University Wall.

“I started up the Grand Wall (5.11a A0 via ‘The Flake’ 10b) at 5am without a rope. I free soloed most of the route, including the famous Split Pillar and Sword pitches and used the daisies to aid through the bolt ladders and Perry’s Layback. From Bellygood ledge I continued up the Upper Black Dyke and topped out at 7am. I ran back down, picked up a rope and rack and then soloed ‘Uncle Ben’s’ (5.10 C2+) using an array of sometimes questionable techniques such as unroped aid climbing on three daisy chains, making loops off belays to avoid having to clean, and free soloing a few pitches. All together I only belayed three-pitches and topped out at 2pm, spending six- hours total on the climb beating my previous time by three-hours and possibly setting a new speed record.

I ran back down and spent an hour or so chilling out, eating lunch and chit chatting with some friends in the boulders. Then I hiked up to the base of University Wall (C2 or 5.12-) and rope soloed the entire route, mostly aid climbing but freeing easier sections on most pitches to save time. I topped out just before 10pm spending six-hours on the route as well. All together the link up took me 17 hours, with 14 hours spent actually climbing.

It was such a good day! I nicknamed my link up the ‘OG Classic’ after the old boys who did the FA’s of these three routes. They were definitely the original gangstas of Squamish Wall climbing”

Leclerc is quickly making a name for himself in the world of climbing. Congrats on the climb from everyone at Gripped!