Trotter’s War Hammer his Castle Mountain Magnum Opus

Sonnie Trotter’s recent link-up of three routes on Castle Mountain combines new-school climbing with an old-school route up one of Canada’s most iconic peaks. He has named the 15-pitch 5.14a link-up War Hammer.

In 2013, Trotter established the five-pitch test-piece Castles in the Sky 5.14a up a tier of rock, but that was just the beginning.

In 2016, he established and climbed The Moat 5.11d on a tier of rock directly below Castles in the Sky.

On Aug. 15, 2017, he led and sent every pitch on The Moat and linked it with Castles in the Sky, which ends below the popular Eisenhower Tower 5.5.

Trotter and partner Dexter Bateman then climbed to the top of the Tower, thus creating a 15-pitch link-up. See more from Trotter below.

Eisenhower Tower was first climbed back in 1926 by E. Feuz and J. Hickson. Back in the 1920s, it considered an impressive accomplishment and was one of the most technical rock climbs in the Banff area.

I LOVE ROCK CLIMBING!? So yesterday was kind of a big day for me. Personally and physically. I managed to get an excellent weather window, with perfect conditions, and three top shelf belayers to help me summit a long-time dream climb. This 15 pitch route (which I'm calling War Hammer) links up 'The Moat' into 'Castles in the Sky' into 'Eisenhower Tower' has been 5 years in the making, a dozen days of work, and at least 100 bolts. The crux pitch is a pumpy 5.14a which felt better than ever yesterday. So sticky. I am also stoked to see the younger generation up there living the good life and working the route as well. Many, many thanks to @practicewithlydia @brandonpullan @dexterbateman @s_a_m_t_u_c_k_e_r @climb4sam @sameastman_ and @evgeniikrem who all helped bring this monster to life. Friends in high places are the best. #warhammer

A post shared by Sonnie Trotter (@sonnietrotter) on Aug 16, 2017 at 9:04am PDT

The tower is one of the most noticeable mountain features from the Trans-Canada Highway in the Rockies. Every year, countless climbers make their way up.

Earlier this summer, Trotter linked pitches on his route The Shining on Mount Louis to create the first 5.14a line up the aesthetic mountain.

Watch Trotter on Castles in the Sky below in a film by American photographer Ben Moon.