Grand Wall Area

Looking up The Grand Wall. Photo by Blitzo.

Description 

This is the large expanse of granite on the Squamish Chief that includes the Grand Wall route and its numerous variations. It's west facing allowing morning shade and sometimes severe afternoon sun.

The rock is mostly smooth vertical granite with a few very distinct crack systems.

Getting There 

From the main Chief parking lot off of Highway 99, walk along the paved road that leads to the campground a short distance until you can turn left on the old highway. Walk until you see a trail on the right with a large sign. Take the well marked trail to the base of the wall.

The Grand Wall Area starts partway up the cliff and can be accessed from a number of Grand Wall Base Area routes.

The Usual Way:
Climb Apron Strings (10b, 2p) to Merci Me (5.8, 2p, somewhat runout) and then do a seemingly unnamed 10b traverse right to some bolts below the Split Pillar. Aid up the three bolts to a comfy ledge at the start of the Split Pillar. It's possible to boulder past the bolts on the left at about 5.12-.

The Fastest Way:
As above, but avoid Apron Strings by walking left along the base of the wall until you can work your way up and right on Flake Ledge (including batmanning up a short chain) to the start of Merci Me.

The Most Rewarding Way:
Climb Cruel Shoes (5.10d, 6p, one runout 5.9 pitch) to the base of the Split Pillar.

The Classics

Featured Route For Grand Wall Area

The Grand Wall 5.11a A0  International : Canada : ... : Grand Wall Area

This is THE route at Squamish. It has is all: perfect rock, great setting, runout slab, stellar crack, strenuous laybacking, delicate face, and many variations.The first ascent was a 40 day epic, beautifully documented in the film "In the Shadow of the Chief" available from http://www.fringefilmworks.com/It was finally freed at 5.13b in 2000 by Scott Cosgrove and Annie Overlin using a number of variations.You can get to the base of the Split Pill...[more]   Browse More Classics in International

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The Grand Wall Area. There are several parties in...