East Coast Sons Sent Father’s 1985 Aid Line

Ascent to Asgard was first climbed by Steve Adamson and I. MacDonald in 1985 as a 33-metre 5.6 A3. Steve’s sons, Peter and Jon, returned in August last year to make the first free ascent of their father’s line at Cochrane Lane in New Brunswick.

The brothers added a few bolts, but most of the line still requires good gear-placement skills up a detached flake and hanging blocks. It has one of the most “wild crux moves up one of the most intimidating and aesthetic lines in the province” said Jon.

The original aid route was done in two pitches with a bolted anchor midway, but Jon and Peter linked the two pitches.

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@jonadamson5.15 and I got the first free ascent of Ascent to Asgard, 5.12, this weekend, an aid route put up by our Father @roclmbr in 1985 (coincidentally the year Jon was born) along with the late Ian MacDonald. Jon sent first and I got the second send immediately after. Tricky gear, detached flakes, hanging blocks and wild crux moves make this one of the most intimidating and aesthetic lines in the province. Photos by @kristenmaillet and @roclmbr #climbing #tradclimbing #ascenttoasgard #newbrunswick #welsford #cochranelane #ampitheatre #firstascent #climbing_pictures_of_instagram #climbing_is_my_passion

A post shared by peter adamson (@peter_adamson) on Aug 30, 2018 at 11:09am PDT

Francois Cote repeated the route this summer and said he thinks it’s one of the best routes in the province. He noted that it has a lot of variety up a long and exposed pitch.

Cote went on to add his own new route to Cochrane Lanes’ Amphitheatre in August called Falcon Punch 5.12c. It’s mostly bolted, but requires a .75 or #1 for the flake after first bolt and .3-.5 or nuts for an easy section higher up.

The most difficult route in the area is Hades 5.13b/c, first sent by Peter in 2012 and repeated by Cote. Cochrane Lane has dozens of high-quality sport and trad routes, including three-pitch moderates. For more visit here.

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Managed to put up a new route at the Amphitheatre at Cochrane Lane. The upper arête caught my eye one day when I was working on something else in the area and I absolutely wanted to climb it. After some work scrubbing, bolting and figuring out the beta, this cool route was born. Falcon Punch 5.12c Thanks @krista_jean_ for going up there and snapping some great pics! #climbnb #climbcanada #climbing #rockclimbing #cochranelane #cochranelanecliffs

A post shared by Francois Cote (@francois_cote15) on Aug 31, 2019 at 7:28pm PDT