Three Famous Bow Valley 5.14s Were Just Climbed
The Path, Honour and Glory and Existence Mundane all get climbed in August
Alberta’s Bow Valley has been busy this summer with climbers coming from near and far to project difficult lines. While areas such as Grassi Lakes and Cougar Creek were closed, other places like Acephale, Echo Canyon and Back of the Lake were busy.
Mike Doyle, one of Canada’s first climbers to send 5.14 back in the 1990s, has repeated Honour and Glory at the Colisseum in Echo Canyon. The route was famously sent by Evan Hau at 5.15a but was downgraded by Adam Ondra to 5.14d. It was repeated by Elan Jonas-McRae and Miles Adamson, who also suggested hard 5.14.
At Back of the Lake, American Palmer Larsen sent The Path 5.14aR during mid-summer visit to the area with partner Alison Vest. The first free ascent was in 2007 by Sonnie Trotter after he chopped several bolts that had been left on the wall years prior. The Path has been climbed several times over the past 15 years, including by Babsi Zangerl Tommy Caldwell, Alex Megos, Jacopo Larcher and more.
At Acephale, Calgary’s Adam Edwards sent Existence Mundane 5.14b. At 16 years old, Edwards is likely the youngest Canadian to climb the grade and the route. “Such an amazing route with history,” said Edwards. Scott Milton made the first free ascent of the steep route in 1997 after Rick Conover bolted it. The route was featured with Sonnie Trotter climbing it on the cover of sixth edition of Sport Climbs in the Canadian Rockies. Be sure to follow Edwards on Instagram for more hard climbing.
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