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Recent Hard Sends by Canadians

Summer is in full effect in Canada and that means projects are going down from east to west.

In Quebec, Olivier Turgeon has sent L’Italienne 5.13c and La Polonaise 5.13d at Kamarouska. In the fall of 2014, Turgeon sent his project of the year, Le Patient 5.14a at Quebec’s Sanatorium. For a new online map of popular summer and winter crags in Quebec check out this new map.

Over seas, Sean McColl took a break from the World Cup circuit for some real rock action. At Ceillac in France, McColl sent Petite Danseuse 5.13b and Dragée Fuca 5.14a.

In the Canadian Rockies, West Coast climber Kim House sent a handful for hard routes at Acephale, including Swelltone Theatre 5.12c on her third go and Altius 5.12c. Her climber partner Graham McGrenere sent two of Acephale’s classic hard routes, Army Ants 5.13c after three tries and Whale House 5.13c after four burns.

Also in the Rockies, Calgary’s Ben Blakney sent Fully Jingus 5.13d at Acephale and the likely second-ascet of Skinny Love Extension 5.13c at The Lookout. Adam Currie also recently sent Fully Jingus and said, “Such a mental battle for me. Fell so many times at the crux, but all came together with great temps.” Dan Beland sent Fudge Packer 5.13d at Planet X and two 5.13+ routes at Acephale. And, Matt Norman and Sam Eastman established a new 5.13 gear route at Back of the Lake. There are also reports of a new route on the north face of Mount Louis by a Squamish team who were snowed out of the Tonquin Valley.

Sam Eastman on his new route Rehab is for Quitters 5.13.  Photo John Price Photography
Sam Eastman on his new route Rehab is for Quitters 5.13. Photo John Price Photography

There has been lots of action in the Bugaboos with reports of a handful of hard new routes. On the West Coast, Vikki Weldon made the fourth free ascent of Adder Crack 5.13a at the Long House. At the same crag, Tom Wright onsighted the hard crack Shapeshifter 5.11d. Brette Harrington made the third free ascent of Edge of Pan 5.13. Brock Tilling sent the difficult Invincible V10 at Porteau Cove during a heat wave. Jamie Finlayson sent his project, Terminator V13. West Coast climber, who is currently based in Switzerland, Allanah Yip sent Caroline in Rocklands, her first V10.

Vikki Weldon sending Adder Crack 5.13a.  Photo by her parents Andy and Laurie Weldon
Vikki Weldon sending Adder Crack 5.13a. Photo by her parents Andy and Laurie Weldon

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