Philip Quade’s Road Trip Continues with Calabogie Bouldering

Week nine started in Calabogie, an area that had more than I expected. I was sussing projects throughout the shoot and it was my turn to get on the rock. The day’s theme was roofs and dynos starting on some great V2s near the entrance before moving onto my first project called November V4. Shooting Alex on it had made the problem seem like a bit of an easy target. But, that was not the case for me. When Kyle Jessup arrived at the Gateway Boulder, the dyno-fest started. It is an awesome place to practice dynos. Soft landings and a gradual the incline of the stone allow you to start easy and shallow and work to huge throws. Putting down both the static and dyno for Put All Your Fears to Rest V4 was a big moment in the day for me.

I had met a group earlier in the morning from Ottawa, who I chatted with briefly and would run into again later on. It turned out that I was talking with Kristal Dubois, co-author of the Calabogie Guidebook and key player in the development and preservation of the area. One of the others was Petra Slivka-Flagg, owner of Vertical Reality Climbing Gym in Ottawa and one of the main forces behind the Calabogie route development and bolting. I had a chance to chat with Kristal about the area and we got to climb a little together, as she showed me beta on Bullfighter’s Friend and The Ambassador of KickYerAssiter, both V3.

Psyched to be back here in Calabogie, shooting some awesome boulders with Ottawa rock stars @alexandra__pierce and @samueltiukuvaara for @grippedmagazine. • Definitely some excellent times to be had out here. It's been really great to be uncovering so much climbing so close to where I grew up since getting back north of the boarder. Stoked for another day at it tomorrow! • Photo: @alexandra__pierce getting in her heel quota for the day on "Ride The Wave", V3, in the Africa Boulders, Calabogie, Ontario. • • • • #climbing | #bouldering | #c_l_i_m_b | #conquerthecrux | #staticclimbing | #theradlife | #climbingnation | #flashedclimbing | #flashfoxy | #grippedmagazine | #womenrockclimbing | #climblikeagirl | #radgirlslife | #girlswhocrush | #rockclimbing | #climbing_pictures_of_instagram | #climbing_is_my_passion | #climb | #calabogie | #ontarioclimbing | #climbcanada | #skratchthesummit | #skratchlabs | #scarpa | #mec | #livefree | #livewild | #howiconquer | #climbingisbliss | #climbingphotography | @flashedclimbing | @grippedmagazine | @scarpana | @skratchlabs | @racedayfuel

A photo posted by Philip Quade (@philip_quade) on Jul 16, 2016 at 6:40pm PDT

I soon made my way deeper into the area, with intention to tackle one more project called Malaria V4. It starts under a roof and moves out on a sloping rail, not my kind of sloping rail. I specifically targeted that line because it nailed a weakness for me. After a few attempts, a snack and dialing my heel, I was sent. I then found a V5 and V6 that looked good. Both worked out from under a roof and mantled onto a slab, which is more my kind of thing. I sent Dances with Wolves V5 and then tried the V6 called A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing. A smear to a high toe, I nailed the key hold, left hand to the crimp and before I knew it, I was pressing out of the mantle and topped out. Two new grades in one afternoon.

That day marked the highlight of several weeks of temperamental weather and limited personal time on rock. In one day, I accomplished three of my biggest climbing goals of the year. The days that followed were spent at my cottage editing, resting and preparing for the drive to northern Ontario to find the well-hidden Blueberry Boulders north of Ignace.

A photo posted by Philip Quade (@philip_quade) on Jul 20, 2016 at 8:04pm PDT