Greg Tos Sessions Lookout Rock Every Month in 2013

Winter Rock 

The south walls of Grotto Mountain, home to Bataan and Echo Canyon, are sometimes to hot to climb in summer. The past month has been cold in Alberta, reaching -44 degrees Celsius, the mountains were not spared. In the Bow Valley wood stoves are stoked in December, ready for those who are returning from the ski hill, or the very bold who dared to ice climb. Elevation Place climbing gym in Canmore is busy with rock climbers staying fit for rock season, out the window the snow covered mountains are void of visitors, the often busy crags empty.

One man, more than most, is a fixture on the walls of Echo Canyon. No man knows the area better than Greg Tos, who has played an important role in the areas development. On Sunday, December 15, after a week of -30 degree Celsius weather, Tos hiked up to the Lookout, jumped on the Atlantis Wall and climbed his route Atlantis, 5.12c. Tos climbed at the Lookout every month in 2013. Joining Tos was Nancy Hansen, who was the first person to climb on Yamnuska every month from January to December in 2002.

“Today was a bit of a historic day for me. For years I have been trying to climb at the Lookout every month of the year. December has eluded me until today. I got to climb Atlantis, the route which started it all at the Atlantis Wall. Thanks to Nancy Hansen, Bonar McCallum, Craig Doram, and Pete for joining in the fun. We had great temps. Living the Dream!” said Tos.

In February 2014, Gripped Magazine will have a feature on Tos.