Reply: Climbing Vancouver regions
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  Climbing Vancouver regions
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Suzanne Posted - 3/1/2007 6:34:02 AM

Can anyone tell me the different rock types to be found at Squamish, and regionally; grit, limestone, granite etc?

And what areas to climb at locally around Vancouver besides Squamish, and boulder.

Cheers :)
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Suzanne Posted - 3/21/2007 3:10:53 AM
Yo! Arthur and ace (or might that really be 'send' and 'dumb'?).  If I were you I'd return back to your gripped forum and remain there, I am ignoring you incase you haven't noticed as I'd rather put that episode behind me completely.  And maybe you were all joking and fooling around on there, which I have since come to realise (albeit harshly), but just bear in mind us brits do not all understand your 'harsh' sense of humour behind a pc on there, and thin skinned I may well be, so just bear that one in mind please.  I went there with good intentions despite what you may think, and I deleted because I'd left, you too deleted your 'much worse' comments, and I haven't carried anything on, despite yourselves as you are currently trying to do.  I am pleased you are not all like that in reality, and neither am I you may like to hear, and I accept I was wrong to react to you, but like I say us brits do not all understand your sense of humour (if that's what it was) . Peace, and TC.
ace Posted - 3/20/2007 11:18:51 PM
Oooh ... dirt on Suzanne!  Do tell more Arthur ...
Arthur Posted - 3/19/2007 4:26:12 PM
I just realized who you are now. Did not make the connection. Suzanne and SportSuz... we'll ketchup, when your referring to low-lifes I should mention to you that there were many comments by Suz that were deleted off of gripped.
ketchup Posted - 3/19/2007 1:54:11 PM
Ooop.  Sorry - I was confused.  You were referring to stuff on other forums and I thought you meant this one.  My bad.
suzanne Posted - 3/19/2007 10:59:47 AM
Okay you have one last ice climb next year; and I'll have my 'one and only' ice climb with you; so it can be your last and my first and last, as I doubt I'll want to do it ongoing, I dislike the cold, prefer the warm sun, except if skiing (in Europe you get a sun tan skiing; I didn't get one in Whistler); Whistler is beautiful and that snow is fantastic!  Better than Europe, it was all like being off-piste mainly, but what a jump between a black and a double black.  The black runs there are not quite as extreme as the black runs in Europe (more icy, steep, or narrow in Europe), but their double blacks in Whistler, you can't even see the slope through the gap at the top of the mountain, and I am never jumping into the air to find out what's on the other side - am not that brave ;)
suzanne Posted - 3/19/2007 10:56:21 AM

Really Ketchup? what did it say, do tell me email me at ssuzs2@yahoo.co.uk.

Am all ears lol.  My guess is it was one of those bad eggs from the gripped forum posting, but yes good it got deleted, if that occured more on theirs it might've been a little better.
ketchup Posted - 3/19/2007 8:59:36 AM

Woah!  I go away for a weekend and come back to find this quiet little happy forum is now being infiltrated by lower forms of humanity.  Glad to see whatever they posted was deleted.

For sure Suzanne ... I might have one last ice climb in me.  Just probably need 6 months to get in better shape for it :P  Perfect timing for next winter.
suzanne Posted - 3/19/2007 7:58:09 AM
And I have had 'more helpful advice' on this forum and 1-2 others; that one was of little help; idea of a joke to some is quite sickening too.  If you think 'being raped' is something to be made a joke of, or being called a nutter (when you just posted new; looking for climbing partners).  My post was humourous though, I did post that with the humourous touch 'looking for climbing partners'.  Also, they insult you in saying 'you' are a certain way, but what they insult you of is exactly what they do to others; where I'm from we'd call that 'double standards'.  So personal opinion on that forum.. Yes, 'very nice' (not).  p.s. some Canadian climbers on there have agreed with me on that one.  I won't  be recommending it to anyone.
suzanne Posted - 3/19/2007 7:42:35 AM
On the whole though, I'd beg to differ on what you state, some may well be that way, yes and I would agree; but some are most definately not.  So on that note, no need to go there :))
suzanne Posted - 3/19/2007 7:27:01 AM
And there's plenty 'better' forums than that one from what I can see; but thanks anyway; thankfully that is not the only forum in Canada for climbing, www.ukclimbing.com is going to be a hard one to beat, ours has the best so far, on attitudes, friendliness, getting climbing partners easily etc.  Shame Canada doesn't yet have one national forum just like that one, but oh nevermind.
suzanne Posted - 3/19/2007 7:24:49 AM
You're now giving me a laugh.  Do I know you ;)
Arthur Posted - 3/19/2007 5:48:08 AM

 Suzanne you say you are having trouble with forums try this one:

www.gripped.com it is  a site for all Canadian climbers. It is a site for a  great Canadian magazine! With a great online community. I do not personaly know anyone on the site, yet I have found it helpful.

I'll warn you that you have to be able to accept a joke, go along with it... forget it after it is over, but no one intends to be offensive.

You will find the site to be very informative of what is going on in Canada!

 

If you are Canadian or coming to Canada it is the best place to look!!!

 

Of course if you are coming to Vancouver then this site is more specific on this location. But for a general idea of Canada, and the most up to date site gripped is amazing!
Suzanne Posted - 3/19/2007 5:43:00 AM
Have to say, I see why they like climbing in UK, it's only an hour to the next city; close enough for a vast range of different rock types for climbing; and only 14 hrs from the tip of Scotland to the far south of Cornwall, so you can drive from one end of the country to the other in a day basically; prefer a flight mind (only an hour by plane).
Suzanne Posted - 3/19/2007 3:23:24 AM

Thanks Photog,

                         that's helpful feedback, I like granite, and used to trad climbing mainly; not done any sport climbs outdoors yet, but I hear it's similar to indoor climbing, just more spread out bolts.
Photog Posted - 3/18/2007 6:35:53 PM
All the rock you will find around the Vancouver area, including Squamish is granite. Cheakamus Canyon, which is about an hour north of Squamish is granite as well but climbs more like gneiss. If you head up into the mountains there's some volcanic varieties but the quality isn't so good. I'm sure there's probably some little obscure areas around here that aren't granite but they could be difficult to find info for. 4 hours east of Vancouver is Skaha and it's one of the best sport climbing areas in Canada. The rock is gneiss and there's over 900 routes with the majority being sport(bolted). If you are a gym climber you will like Skaha.
Suzanne Posted - 3/16/2007 5:46:42 PM

I'll come ice climbing with you ketchup, once at least ;)

You're more on my wavelength, this forum is sound, as are the others, just one that isn't, but I may not go there again and that way, there is no more. lol.

Have a good weekend, am at parents for my last weekend, which is nice.
Suzanne Posted - 3/16/2007 3:16:55 PM

What is your impression of the climbers over there in general ketchup?  Reason I ask is there is one other forum where they are really nasty to people, each other even, and any one they don't know who is 'new'.  Reminds me of being back at school, not adults at all.  I was shocked!  At least here they are more respectful than that, and great when you meet up and go climbing, they become very good friends.  I would like to think it was that way there too, or even better, I am going to miss them here, moreso reading what I've read on that horrible forum.  This one is nice, so are all the others I go to.

Peace.

TC :)
ketchup Posted - 3/16/2007 12:30:40 PM

Oh there's a rope too - I aint that hard core :).  We either did top roping or the trainer went ahead and stuck in some ice screws to attach line to.  It'd be pretty scary to only have crampons and ice axes fixing you in position ... ice breaks a lot!

I'd recommend trying ice climbing at least once.  Then at least you can tell boastful stories to people about it ... such as on an outdoor message board or something ;)
Suzanne Posted - 3/15/2007 10:32:51 AM

That's good to know, I wouldn't mind giving ice climbing a go, I hear you just slam in your crampons and the axe and get up there, nothing to hang off on though for a rest as you would on a rope on an indoor/ outdoor wall though right?  Just stand there for a while with axe and crampons dug in?
ketchup Posted - 3/15/2007 10:30:48 AM

Wow - that's cool.  Checking out those pictures on those sites I had know idea it was that big over there! 

Ice climbing can get cold depending on the conditions but I remember having overheating problems both trips I've been on.  You wear lots of protective clothes and gear but then you're exerting yourself pretty hard and the sun is beaming down both directly and indirectly reflecting off the snow and ice ... HOT!

You don't have to be a good climber to try it - it's slightly different and uses muscles in a different way.  My rookie approach was to use brute force to whack in the ice picks and climbing crampons rather than anything more technically smart.  Tiring but seemed to work ok and you get the satisfaction of showering the guy below you with chunks of ice!  :P
Suzanne Posted - 3/15/2007 8:26:40 AM

This may help to give a good overview; found this on the same site:

http://www.rockfax.com/databases/
Suzanne Posted - 3/15/2007 4:08:41 AM
You must be a good climber to go ice climbing!  Personally I don't think it'll be for me; mainly as I can't get my hands cold, fingers go numb and white in the extreme cold, I have to keep them warm mostly :(
Suzanne Posted - 3/15/2007 4:07:36 AM
You'll be surprised Ketchup to learn that there is good climbing all over the UK, the club I was with for one, and alot from UKC climb all over UK; some in Europe, some moved to Europe, as well as other places (those on www.ukclimbing.com anyway.  Here we have grit (in peak district); south of England there is sandstone too (Portland), as well as limestone; granite etc; some would argue we have the most varied rock types here in the UK; I personally disbelieve it as the US/Canada etc are far bigger continents so I'm sure all the rock types found in the UK can be found there too, and ice climbing only really in Scotland. But I'd say alot go to the Alps (Chamonix) and Norway for that moreso.  I doubt in the UK, apart from Cheddar Gorge (from all I gather) that we could compare to the height of the climbs that are prevalent in Canada and the US for example.  Unfortunately, I missed out on climbing at Cheddar Gorge, times ran out I move to Canada next week.  Check out that link above to find out more fully about it all.
ketchup Posted - 3/14/2007 12:44:20 PM
I've only ever climbed here in BC and once in Utah.  What's your experiences like over in Europe?  I'm going to guess Scotland and the Alps are where to go?
ketchup Posted - 3/14/2007 12:42:38 PM

Doh!  I just noticed his website is broke.  The doofus couldn't web master his way out of a paper bag.

Anyways ... BC is amazing for climbing.  The town/area I went ice climbing in and around is called Lillooet and is in the interior of BC.  I've been up there twice for it.  Rumor has it that the Rockies is the best for ice climbing though ... that mountain range runs along the Eastern border of BC (right next to Alberta).
ketchup Posted - 3/14/2007 12:36:00 PM

I sure do.  Not so much these days but couple years back I was big into it.  Even done an ice climbing course which was pretty amazing!  Here's pics as proof of me ice climbing on my climbing buddy's website - http://www.johnblown.com/ice/
Suzanne Posted - 3/14/2007 10:38:58 AM

ketchup; do you climb as well? :)

 
Suzanne Posted - 3/2/2007 2:09:38 PM

yer, rockies, few days drive away.. ouch!  few hours would be nicer lol!  Everywhere aside from Vancouver is colder though, so not in winter time I won't climb there outdoors.

A plane may be a good idea/ train faster than car too.

Thanks again :)

 
ketchup Posted - 3/2/2007 11:37:40 AM

Yeah ... Squamish is famous world wide for climbing.  But by all means isn't the only great climbing spot here. 

The Rockies are only a days drive away - great climbing there too!
ov Posted - 3/2/2007 10:46:46 AM
Squamish is the main climbing place, that is true.  It is spectacular.  You can see a photo on the climbing section of this site.
suzanne Posted - 3/2/2007 4:35:14 AM

That's great, thanks, I love Granite.

Squamish is the place to go mainly though right?  Am I right?
ketchup Posted - 3/1/2007 9:14:18 AM

It's mainly granite around here.

Light House Park (http://www.outdoorvancouver.com/trails/lighthouse_park.aspx) is a great place to climb while being close to downtown Vancouver.  I think there are a few other popular spots around but this is the only one I've climbed at.