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Sea to Sky Corridor

Submitted By: Peter Spindloe on May 7, 2007
Administrator: Peter Spindloe
Latitude: 49.8991  Longitude: -123.1526 
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Alex enjoying the overhanging granite of an the Le...


Description 

This is the area along highway 99 between Squamish and Whistler. It includes such crags as Cheakamus Canyon, Rogues Gallery, Alice Lake and many more. Some are just a few km north of Squamish others up to half an hour drive up the highway.

While it's very close to Squamish and the Chief, the rock is quite different. It's still granite, but it's of a much more smooth and compact nature. It rarely lends itself to trad climbing, but makes for excellent sport climbing. This area is home to many hundreds of sport climbs of all grades, right up to 5.14c.

The climbing tends to be vertical or overhanging and there's enough variety to find huge roof routes, vertical crimp-fests, endurance marathons as well as bouldery power routes. While the climbing tends toward 5.11 and higher, there are some excellent, properly bolted 5.9 and 5.10 routes as well.

One of this area's notable features, in addition to excellent climbing, is the possibility to climb in the rain on quite a number of routes.


Getting There 

Starting from Squamish, head north on highway 99. Various side roads, forest service roads and pullouts will take you to each of the areas.


Camping 

Basing yourself in Squamish probably makes the most sense if you intend to climb in this area for multiple days since it's the closest place for food and non-climbing diversions. Alice Lake Provincial Park has camping and will put you closer to some of the climbing (see http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/alicelk.htm>>>>>.

I'm not aware of any camping from which you could walk to the main areas. Let me know if there is and I'll update this information.


The Classics

Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for Sea to Sky Corridor:
Charlotte's Web   5.9     Sport, 2 pitches, 130 feet   Chek : Conroy's Castle
A Stab in the Dark   5.10b     Sport, 1 pitch, 45 feet   Chek : The Well of Souls
The Voodoo That You Do   5.10b     Sport, 50 feet   Chek : Forgotten Wall
Kigijiushi   5.10c     Sport, 1 pitch, 82 feet   Chek : The Main Event
Bullet the Blue Car   5.10d     Sport, 1 pitch, 50 feet   Chek : Conroy's Castle
Browse More Classics in Sea to Sky Corridor

Featured Route For Sea to Sky Corridor
Climber starting up Kigijiushi. The dark streak on the left is Dark Don't Lie.

Kigijiushi 5.10c  International : Canada : ... : The Main Event
This route is awsome. Being tall help a little bit with clipping the draws from a comfortable stance. One of the better routes on the wall...[more]   Browse More Classics in International


Photos of Sea to Sky Corridor Slideshow Add Photo
Following second pitch of "Star Chek"

Following second pitch of "Star Chek"

Backcountry skiing in Whistler. I think this is Cowboy Ridge we're ascending. The runs on Blackcomb are visible on the right in the background. To get here we got a backcountry pass (one ride up) for Whistler and then headed east over the Musical Bumps. Some of the Musical Bumps are now lift serviced rather than backcountry (as of 2006 or 2007), but Cowboy Ridge isn't, and it was great skiing.

Backcountry skiing in Whistler. I think this is C...

Looking down Cowboy Ridge in the Whistler Backcountry. If you look really closely, near the center of the shot, you can see some people skining up.

Looking down Cowboy Ridge in the Whistler Backcoun...

Joanne at the top of Whistler in the spring. The Black Tusk is visible in the background.

Joanne at the top of Whistler in the spring. The ...

The Black Tusk from Whistler peak in the spring. In the winter there is good backcountry skiing around the Tusk, but access via snowmobile is recommended due to the very long low-angle approach. In the summer, the hiking and camping around the Tusk is great, especially Taylor Meadows on the east side. Summiting the Tusk requires a bit of fourth class scrambling on crappy volcanic rock.

The Black Tusk from Whistler peak in the spring. ...