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Isengard Rock Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Routes in Isengard

L › R R › L A › Z

	Bat Rat T 5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
	Battle of the Balrog T 5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
	Cracks of Doom T 5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
	Elevensies T 5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
	March of the Ents T 5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
	Precious, The T 5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
	Second Breakfast T 5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
	Shadowfax T 5.12+ 7c 28 IX 27 E6 6b PG13
	Shelob T 5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
	White Hand, The T 5.12+ 7c 28 IX 27 E6 6b PG13
	White Wizard, The T 5.12+ 7c 28 IX 27 E6 6b PG13

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Explore this area in 3D

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:	832 ft	254 m
GPS:	49.65904, -123.17016 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	5,938 total · 77/month
Shared By:	Drew Marshall on Jul 22, 2019
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

Isengard is home to a dozen steep gear climbs from 5.10 to 5.12
The crag is shady and stays cool even in mid-summer.
Some climbs seep and are slow to dry

Getting There

The approach is 20 minutes and steep.

Park at the Gonzales Creek pullout on Highway 99 Northbound (if you're coming South from Squamish, you'll have to turn into the viewpoint after the chain-up area, then turn North onto the highway). The pullout is between Murrin and Shannon Falls and has a trash bin and interpretive sign.

Walk about 50 paces North along the highway. Take a trail up the grass bank to a flagged tree, then follow the trail through two hydro slashes and into the forest. After walking under a big duck bill, turn right along the base of Gonzales Creek Wall (left goes to this wall), then go up into the forest.
This takes you to the White Tower crag.

The Precious is just left of the White Tower.

For Bat Rat, Second Breakfast and Elevensies, continue left for a minute and go up a fixed handline.

Cracks of doom are another 10 minutes.

Flagging marks the trail the whole way.