UNPLUGGED: #2 FERN HILL

PLACE: Fern Hill (Click for Map & detailed topographical info - PDF) LOCATION: Squamish, B.C. Just under one hour's drive from Vancouver and I find myself in the climbers parking lot of The Chief. It's mid morning and the air remains brusque in the shadow of this imposing granite monolith. While this is the prearranged location where I am to meet my friend Chris and his climbing crew I am a bit early so I had a chance to soak up the environment a bit. There are quite a few people in the lot getting their things ready for the day. I spot an assortment of ropes, caribeaners, specialized shoes, bags of all types and even some crash pads for bouldering. A short walk to the West and I find this marvelous footbridge spanning the Sea-to-Sky Highway. It frames the mountains in such a way that it tricks the eye briefly making it appear to be a ladder up into the peaks.

The Footbridge Over the Sea to Sky

Moments later the crew pulls up and instructs me to follow them up the highway a bit to the logging road that leads in to our hike in location. It's worth pointing out that this area is riddled with mountain biking trails and climbing spots. So many that one could easily spend a career cataloging them (note to self, not a bad idea...). We hit our destination about 5 clicks down the logging road, load up the packs and gear and begin the hike in to Fern Hill.

Most of the way in we follow a mountain biking trail known as The Far Side. This trail winds you through much of what is known as the Crumpit Woods area of Valley Cliff and gradually weaves it's way up through the forest at a manageable incline.

I need to be honest with everyone at this point. I am not a climber. I have never hung from a rock face let alone a plastic rock wall in a gym. This is not to say I would never do it, but on this excursion I was a tourist rather than a participant. So as the group decided to make sharp left turn off the bike trail and onto a much less worn foot path with a and significantly steeper incline I began to wonder what I had gotten myself into.

Another 10 minutes up and we reached our destination.

Out of the bags came the gear.

We all rubbed on the bug spray (DO NOT LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT) and the climbers began to strap on their harnesses, chalk bags, ropes and carabiners. There were only two other people at the climbing spot for the entire time I was there so the atmosphere was serene. Very little in the way of talking and a lot in the way of climbing.

One of the two climbers that was at the site when we arrived, Jase, making his way up the face.

My buddy Chris looking like he wants to jump!

From left to right; Matt, Gary and Jase.

Chris setting up the rope.

Jase just below the roof.

Chris on the left and Jase on the right.

Chris having just pulled his hand out of the chalk bag.

A beautiful view of Chris beginning to repel down the rock face.

I was totally impressed with both the beauty of the site as well as the skill of the climbers. Prior to this trip it was highly unlikely that I would ever find myself even considering dangling from a rock face but now... now I am intrigued. Maybe if the weather does not cooperate one weekend I will venture out to one of the local Vancouver climbing gyms for an edition of UNPLUGGED.

If you are interested in climbing yourself I might I suggest you head on over to SquamishClimbing.com where their members have gone to great lengths to catalog all "maps, crags and topos" in the area.

Lastly, I would like to know what you think about UNPLUGGED. Do you like the idea? Have you got any suggestions on locations that I should check out? Hell, if you are willing to act as a guide and drag me and my camera along I am more than willing to document the trip. Drop me a comment below or feel free to send me an email at [email protected].

Until next time...Happy Trails!

-mt

P.S. - Jase, if you are reading this please send me an email and I will get you the hi-res versions of these pics. I accidentally deleted the email draft I started on my Blackberry to capture notes... Lesson: Next time bring a notebook.