The Arc鈥檛eryx Climbing Academy took over town for four days, as climbers from near and far came to tackle the terrain and learn from some of the best in the business.
Event director Justin Sweeny said the event started a dozen years ago, with Arc鈥檛eryx taking over as title sponsor two years ago, has only continued to grow.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been amazing, it鈥檚 been incredible,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e probably had the best festival in the history of the event.鈥�
The academy did attract many climbers from close to home, says Sweeny.
鈥淭hey came from the Lower Mainland, they came from Seattle,鈥� he said.
Some came from further away in the U.S. though, from cities like Chicago and Los Angeles.
The event started with rock climber and mountaineer Peter Croft, known for making many first ascents, as the keynote speaker during the kickoff event at O鈥橲iyam Park in 麻豆社国产and was followed by a performance by indie rockers Yukon Blonde.
The downtown event was a bit of a departure for the festival, says Sweeny, adding it was a new way to introduce the event to the community.
鈥淭he biggest addition this year was having the event in downtown Squamish,鈥� he said.
The academy featured clinics throughout the event, as hikers met up with instructors to work on different aspects of climbing at different locations around the 麻豆社国产area. There were also seminars covering a range of topics including sports injury rehabilitation, nutrition and strength training. It also featured a trade fair at the parking lot of the Stawamus Chief.
鈥淭his is an opportunity to engage with the community,鈥� Sweeny said.
Also on the agenda was a series of talks by some top climbers. For example, Kate Rutherford recounted her experiences climbing parts of Yosemite National Park near her home including El Capitan, as well as her quests to climb the Purcell Mountains in B.C. and the seven summits of Patagonia in South America.
Of the latter, she recounted her climbs set over a period of several years and the challenges she and her climbing partners had at the high altitudes, such as terrible weather and trying to sleep.
Still, it all made for special experiences, especially when she climbed with other women.
鈥淚t was just a wild and beautiful adventure with these really special people,鈥� she said.
One of the biggest challenges for Rutherford though has more to do with coming down rather than ascending 鈥� specifically that feeling of what to do next.
鈥淭he mountains are there, always calling,鈥� she said.
Arc鈥檛eryx also sponsors an alpine academy in Chamonix-Mont Blanc, France held in June. Climber Jonathan Siegrist talked about the experience Friday night during the speaker and music series held up the gondola. He had been climbing around Switzerland for approximately a month before heading for the snows of the alpine academy.
Of the snow and glacial ice, he said, 鈥淭his was a big change of scenery for me鈥�. Needless to say, that event is incredible.鈥�
