Otto Posted August 9, 2013 Share Posted August 9, 2013 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". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hanman Posted August 10, 2013 Share Posted August 10, 2013 Looks like a nice climb Otto- I'm going to try to get up there this season MH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivan Posted August 10, 2013 Share Posted August 10, 2013 all the kewl people klamber in darrigonastan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyson.g Posted August 10, 2013 Share Posted August 10, 2013 Nice Otto - Mark I would be down for some of that action! Heading out tomorrow for more work, see you around this weekend? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benmurphy Posted August 10, 2013 Share Posted August 10, 2013 Looks awesome! I plan on hitting this one this season as well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvashtarkatena Posted August 10, 2013 Share Posted August 10, 2013 Dark Rythm is an excellent route!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otto Posted August 10, 2013 Author Share Posted August 10, 2013 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... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivan Posted August 10, 2013 Share Posted August 10, 2013 Tvash's rope is still dangling from a flake on the bottom pitch of that route. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazedmaniac Posted August 10, 2013 Share Posted August 10, 2013 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 ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanstaafl Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 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?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dberdinka Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 Whoa! Ken4ord. Thats a blast from the CC.com past. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanstaafl Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 Yeah, it was fab to get out with Ken again. He was killing it in Squamish this past weekend as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken4ord Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken4ord Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 I was getting killed in Squamish, not killing it. Though it is nice to get back on the rock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olyclimber Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 Woo Ken! Woo Kellie! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telemarker Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 Way to ropegun Kellie! Cool photos as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curtveld Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 Is this route accessed from the Illusion Wall or another way? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otto Posted July 17, 2014 Author Share Posted July 17, 2014 (edited) I can pm you the few words we've put together on the approach. Edited July 19, 2014 by Otto Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curtveld Posted July 19, 2014 Share Posted July 19, 2014 (edited) 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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