Zach Watson’s New 5.14 and Hard Repeats in June
He's been ticking difficult lines on both sides of the Bow Valley this month
Canmore climber Zach Watson is one fire this year, with a number of hard repeats and first ascents. Watson, who was once on Team Canada, has climbed a number of 5.14s over the years.
Last week, he made the first ascent of Beast Syndrome at University Wall in McGillivray Canyon in the Bow Valley. About the new 5.14b, he said, “Linkup of Imposter Syndrome and Feed the Beast, climbs quite naturally I think. Surprised myself on this and sent first time I got to the first bolt, but took lots of goes.”
Earlier in June, he repeated Bone Thief Extension 5.14a (first climbed by Derek Galloway and repeated by Bonar McCallum) at the Lookout, and made the FA of A Stern Warning 5.13c in McGillivray Canyon. At Acephale, he send The Unknown Stuntman 5.13d on his second go.
And at Bataan, he made the likely second ascent of Above the Clouds 5.13d at Bataan, and said, “Such a good climb hard to grade this one took me way more tries than Younger than Yesterday but might just be low percent movement also helps to be on the taller end for this one.”
Fellow 5.14 climber Dexter Bateman was on hand and filmed the send, watch below, and he said, “Here’s Zach on Above the Clouds, I think he got the second ascent, hasn’t been sent in a long time.”
Above the Clouds
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