All Locations > International > N America > Canada > British Columbia > Squamish > Stawamus Chief

The Solarium Rock Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Routes in The Solarium

L › R R › L A › Z

	Everything Under The Sun T 5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
	Mere Mortals T 5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
	Message from the Stars T,S 5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
	Paris Hilton T 5.12- 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
	Sunblessed T 5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b PG13
	Sunshine Breakfast T 5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
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Use onX Backcountry to explore the terrain in 3D, view recent satellite imagery, and more. Now available in onX Backcountry Mobile apps! For more information see this post.

Elevation:	2,030 ft	619 m
GPS:	49.6839, -123.1367 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	16,428 total · 72/month
Shared By:	Josh Janes on Feb 11, 2007
Admins:	Mark Roberts, Kate Lynn, Braden Batsford, Mauricio Herrera Cuadra Page Updates (admin only)

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Access Issue: Camping Details

The popularity of Squamish within the #vanlife community has increased to the point that there is great concern about the group’s collective environmental impact. “Wild” or “Freedom” camping has become unmanageable environmentally because of the high numbers of campers. This is a serious issue that causes conflict between locals, home owners, and climbers!

VAN CAMPING / WILD CAMPING

Within District Boundaries

The  District of Squamish PROHIBITS camping within the municipal boundary. This includes sleeping in a vehicle anywhere within District boundaries. A bylaw gives the District the power to issue tickets for contraventions.

Camping on urban / residential streets is prohibited under pre-existing bylaws.

The “hot spots” that have been of most concern are below.

· The whole of the Mamquam Forest Service Road under the North Walls of the Chief between the junction with the 99 and junction with the Stawamus/Indian Arm Forest Service Road (as a salmon run and sensitive riparian area, camping close to the Stawamus River is especially inappropriate)

· The Powerhouse Springs Road including the parking area for the Fern Hill cliff

· The dirt road to the kitesurfing “Spit.”

Outside of District Boundaries

If you explore forest roads in crown land outside the municipal boundaries, it may be possible to find discreet roadside sites suitable for tents or van camping. However, the provincial authorities do have some restrictions ;

· Stays are limited to 14 days.

· Campers should follow Leave No Trace principles. HUMAN WASTE is a major issue.

· Strictly observe any current fire bans.

DESIGNATED CAMPGROUNDS

Please see the District of Squamish website for a comprehensive list of designated campgrounds.

Recommended affordable camping:

- At the Chief: Stawamus Chief Provincial Park Campground BC parks site, spots start at $10.00 CAD/person. No reservations.
- 7 minutes north: Mamquam River Campground A non-profit site, spots start at $15.00cad/night for a drive-in site. Reservations recommended, not required.
- 20 minutes north: Chek Canyon Recreation Site A public site; no fees, no reservations and world class sport-climbing. No running water. The road is steep and rough but 4x4 not required

Description

A great south-facing wall that hosts a few 1-3 pitch climbs including the classic Sunblessed (5.10b). The approach is fairly long and strenuous and this keeps traffic down a bit.

Getting There

Follow the Backside Trail from the Chief campground until a sign directs you right for the Sqaw trail. Follow the Squaw trail until you reach the White Cliff. At this point you must head up the gully.

Five minutes up the gully you should see a break in the right wall with a number of big downed trees. Pass this break and after another two minutes you'll see a smaller break in the right wall with a smooth log. Follow the faint trail up this break.

Once through the break head up a faint trail that goes uphill until you emerge into a pleasant forest with a short wall on your right. A a little further and you'll emerge onto slabs marked with a few cairns. Follow the cairns until the trail (visible as a de-mossed line on the slab) re-enters the forest. At this point you are at the Solarium. A trail runs along the base of the cliff. Sunblessed in particular is at the far end of the trail.

6 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at The Solarium

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.

5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a 18 ● Sunshine Breakfast Trad 3 pitches
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b PG13 74 ● Sunblessed Trad 3 pitches
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b 9 ● Everything Under The Sun Trad 3 pitches
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a 4 ● Message from the Stars Trad, Sport 3 pitches