New Stout Climbs on Storm Creek Headwall
Cloudburst and Riders on the Storm add several hard new pitches to the popular area
Storm Creek Headwall has become one of the best early-season ice/mixed crags in the Canadian Rockies. Found just north of the Stanley Headwall in Kootenay National Park, B.C., it holds several test-piece lines.
While several established routes have been repeated already this fall, two new routes have been added. Jasmin Fauteux and Jon Walsh have made the first ascent of Riders on the Storm, a new five-pitch M6/7 WI4/5. It climbs the first two pitches of Check Your Head before heading up ice between Khaveology and The Silmarilion. No bolts or pitons were used, just bring nuts and doubles from 0.2 to 3.
And Maarten Van Haeren, Ethan Berman and Marcelo León climbed a great looking new two-pitch 140-metre ice route they’ve called Cloudburst. The first pitch goes at WI4 and the second at WI5+. It was repeated a few days after the first ascent. The second pitch follows a steep ice pillar. For the most up-to-date Rockies ice conditions, follow Rockies Ice and Mixed Conditions on Facebook here.
For a topo and some history to the Storm Creek Headwall from 2020, read Jon Walsh’s story here, and for more Storm Creek news over the years see here.
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