Popular B.C. Alpine Rock Route Suffers From Rockfall

Yak Peak is a well-known granite dome with an unmistakable west-facing slab northwest of the Coquihalla Pass on Highway 5. There are a few classic climbs up to 17 pitches, including Yak Check 5.9, Yak Crack 5.9, Reality Check 5.10+ and CardiYak Rhythm 5.11b.

According to Chris Kucey, “This peak has seen three or four big rockfalls on a different aspects within the last two months.” The latest was a rockfall that affected pitches six and seven.

After the rockfall, other climbers ascended Yak Crack without knowing about it, noting that pitch-six now has a hanging belay and there’s a large section of pitch-seven missing. The route was still climbable but more committing for the lead and second.

Yak Peak was shrouded in cloud when the recent rockfall occurred, but Kucey caught a cloud of dust on video, which you can watch below.

In 2021, several popular Squamish climbs were forever changed due to massive rockfalls. Last week, a famous mountain hut in the Alps was destroyed due to rockfall. Be careful out there.