Vikki Weldon Sends Spirit of the West 5.14 in Squamish
Vikki Weldon has sent Spirit of the West 5.14a in Paradise Valley north of Squamish.
Top Canadian climber Weldon wrote on Instagram, “Three years of obsession, progress, failure, doubt and hope all came to a head today! The wind blew, the rock was sticky and the crew was all time.
“Still wrapping my head around it, but my heart is full and my face hurts from smiling.”
Tom Wright bolted Spirit of the West in January of 2015 and sent it that October. He tried the 35-metre 15-bolt line over 40 times.
“An amazing route, one of the best hard sport climbs in Squamish in my subjective opinion,” said Wright.
The second ascent was by local Squamish climbers Ben Harnden, who has also climbed Cobra Crack 5.14a, Dreamcatcher 5.14d and Family Man 5.14a.
The third ascent went to Jon Siegrist in the summer of 2016 and Sonnie Trotter repeated it earlier this year.
Trotter sent the route on Father’s Day and said after, “A nice way to kick off Father’s Day weekend I seriously can’t say enough good things about this climb, even before I dragged my lactose intolerant bones to the anchor.
“Just sent one of the best routes in Western Canada. Yes, that’s a bold statement, but it’s truly that good. Thank you Tom Wight for bringing this granite masterpiece to life.”
For an online topo to Paradise Valley visit here.
Weldon, three-time national bouldering champion, is one of Canada’s most accomplished rock climbers.
She climbed her first 5.13 by the age of 15, has multiple sends to 5.14, has established new routes in Greenland and Morocco and made the second ascent of Blue Jeans 5.13 on Yamnuska.
Watch Siegrist on Spirit of the West
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