[TR] Squire Creek Wall - Skeena26 8/3/2013

[Otto]

Trip: Squire Creek Wall - Skeena26

 

Date: 8/3/2013

 

Trip Report:

As my regular partner and FA artist was away on business, I had a chance to climb last year's route with some new friends. This is an amusing benefit of spending all my climbing time hammering away at one objective all year - bringing up some folks to see how they appreciate it. Kellie and Ken were motivated to have a good time on some new ground, and I'm pleased to say we accomplished that.

 

With the forecast chance of precipitation at 70% on our approach day, we drove up in Kellie's small sedan packed with three bikes in the rain. We hiked up in declining mist in three hours. I had just met Ken, and he turned out to be a full suspension Mt. biker who rode right down the new rock steps in the landslide. Astonishing to me, when asked about it later he hadn't even noticed it.

 

The hike up went well as we made camp after only three hours of travel. We relaxed after setting up the tent, as this photo shows, with the three liter bag of fine wine gone nearly flat.

 

Up at 6:30, and not raining at breakfast time, I was glad to see the forecast holding true. A small pool of water sat in my dinner plate, but I knew the fog would lift and we would get sun this day. We moved out at 9:00 after racking up.

 

Ken's knee was mending from some normal, for him, trashing so Kellie led all 12 pitches. She said she really liked the last pitch, with its patina, the crusty cracks and the gear placements. While Ken did all the belaying I took 200 photos, trying to get off to the side and above. A rare treat, to shoot someone other than a gnarly grizzled man who doesn't want to be seen anyway.

 

The first pitch has a technical, smooth couple of moves at the start.

 

A study of the infamous Primal Scream in the rising cloud.

 

Pitch 2 crosses this short overlap.

 

Working the knob.

 

Pitch 4 moves along the wide overlap and then crosses it.

 

 

 

Pitch 5 with admirable downpressure technique.

 

 

Ken and Bill following.

 

Pitch 7 is a good one with small knobs at 5.8.

 

Hand work. The Sun has finally broken through.

 

Pitch 11 During the upper pitches, the large white snag signals the topout.

 

Pitch 12 There is good pro to the left of the overhang.

 

At the top, Kellie and Ken were all smiles.

 

Happy the Sun has warmed it all and we're on top.

 

Thanks to tanstaafl and ken4ord for allowing me to relax and have a fine couple of days with good appreciative partners. May the good times continue to roll!

 

 

 

 

Gear Notes:

Standard single rack to 4".

[hanman]

Looks like a nice climb Otto-

 

I'm going to try to get up there this season

 

MH

[ivan]

all the kewl people klamber in darrigonastan

[Tyson.g]

Nice Otto -

Mark I would be down for some of that action!

Heading out tomorrow for more work, see you around this weekend?

 

[benmurphy]

Looks awesome! I plan on hitting this one this season as well!

[tvashtarkatena]

Dark Rythm is an excellent route!!!!!

[Otto]

tvash, what's up with the non-sequitur? Even so, I agree with you, Dark Rhythm is an inspiring route. I was intimidated just following chucK up The Flange...

[ivan]

Tvash's rope is still dangling from a flake on the bottom pitch of that route.

[crazedmaniac]

that is NOT primal scream. It is JUST another EASY way up. Primal Scream was 'named' because of a host of reasons, by way of Ken Strong. P.S. is a way up that i had been looking at for over 25 yrs before Ken and i did it, ALL solo free, the very first time. The first 1.5 OR so pitches of the this FIRST and hopefully LAST bolted route on the south wall kinda uses the start of Primal Scream. Where this goes left, Primal goes straight up staying on the ridge all the way up. It is VERY EASY and can be very easy to protect where you want to, OLD SCHOOL way with nuts. aka ... VERY EASY (dont' need big balls). I have done WAY over a dozen 'ways up' on the south wall. Several, where this '26' bolted route goes. Still wondering why it is named skena26.... do 'you' know why Ken named it Primal Scream? great story ...

[tanstaafl]

Otto, thanks for a most excellent and relaxing weekend of climbing, drinking, and elbow rehab. And special thanks for letting me have all the leads! Looking forward to exploring up Squire Creek some more in the future.

 

But why didn't you post the blue steel pic??

[dberdinka]

Whoa! Ken4ord. Thats a blast from the CC.com past.

[tanstaafl]

Yeah, it was fab to get out with Ken again. He was killing it in Squamish this past weekend as well.

[ken4ord]

Otto and tanstaafl it was a most excellent weekend. I had been wanting to go up into Squire Creek and somewhat intimidated by stories I had heard about the area. I was pleasantly surprised in what I saw and what we climbed. Good times for sure, it was great to be back on the PNW rock again.

[ken4ord]

I was getting killed in Squamish, not killing it. Though it is nice to get back on the rock.

[olyclimber]

Woo Ken! Woo Kellie!

[telemarker]

Way to ropegun Kellie! Cool photos as well.

[curtveld]

Is this route accessed from the Illusion Wall or another way?

[Otto]

I can pm you the few words we've put together on the approach.

Edited July 19, 2014 by Otto

[curtveld]

Appreciate the offer, Bill. We didn't have time for research but found it on our own.

 

Skeena is a lot of fun - an outstanding effort by you, Dave and crew.

Edited July 20, 2014 by curtveld