Congrats to blurr UK ambassador Dan Turner for recently completing a Font 8A boulder problem (Impropa Opera Sit Start), E8 Trad route (Disorderly Conduct) and an 8a+ sport route (Keep On Keeping On) all in a single day.
Here's a video that captures this impressive day!
This is the most recent update through from Quebec based blurr ambassadors Catherine Vaillancourt and Olivier Turgeon in the midst of a five week road trip to our our hometown of Squamish...
When we first decided to come to Squamish, it didn’t feel overly excited. Not that I don’t like Squamish. Au contraire. I think it’s the most beautiful climbing area in Canada. It’s just that I was too focused on the task at hand, sending a route that I was working on back home. Whenever I had the chance, I drove to the sanatorium, where I climbed until my arms felt heavy and useless.
Catherine and her blurr Cliffside tee, base of the Chief.
Squamish was kind of a blurry vision in my mind. I did not even look at the guidebook, or check the weather forecast before getting here. I did not prepare at all like I normally do. I was just following Olivier because it was the plan. All I wanted to do was to keep working my project.
Pebble Wrestling
I think it’s only when the bus dropped us off in downtown Squamish that I finally realized how lucky I was to be in this paradise for five weeks. I had not bouldered in months yet that didn't matter. I was at last coming out of my bubble. I was amazed by the scenery, and of course by the climbing.
The Substrate - Poutine night in the campground at the base of the Chief.
Now it’s already mid-trip and I am happily shredding my fingertips on the sharp granite, “pebble wrestling” at the base of the Chief, as some trad climbers would put it. Bouldering in Squamish is so much fun because every problem is a puzzle to solve, with intricate sequences and fun movements. I am stoked to be here, cimbing every day, solving these puzzles, and though many other projects await elsewhere, I am happy here, living in the now!
Cheers!
Catherine
Olivier prepping the white gravy for Poutine night.
Video through from the blurr UK Crew showing Daniel Turner in North Cornwall and Devon. Produced and edited by RSB Studios.
A few weeks into their stay in Squamish, blurr ambassadors Catherine and Olivier have pulled together a short video showing summer road trip life in our hometown...
Longtime and Quebec based blurr ambassadors Catherine Vallaincourt and Olivier Turgeon have landed in our home base of Squamish for a five week stay. This was the first chance we've had to meet them in person and the enthusiasm that came across in communication from afar was more than present in person; we are lucky to have them engaged and contributing.
With a talent for photography, video and writing they will provide a glimpse of Squamish through the eyes of those traveling in for a summer of recreation in this fantastic place. It's easy to take all Squamish has to offer for granted or fall into the same routine after being based here for a long period and we think they'll find a few gems that we've long since forgotten.
The first update from the field is coming through en Francais...
Nouse sommes arrivés à Squamish pour l'été! Il y a au moins 4 ans que nous n'avions pas grimpé dans ce paradis granitique. Arriver à Squamish, c'est comme retourner chez ses parents; on s'y sent toujours chez soi. Nous dormons au Chief, le camping à la base de la paroi. Presque rien n'a changé ici, les "tent patches" de camping, les hippies barbus, les toilettes et leurs odeurs, les poubelles "bear proof", les multiples slacklines, le stationnement et ses "pickups" remplis de tradeux qui discutent de leurs péripéties de la journée en buvant une bière bien méritée ... Non, rien n'a changé.
Dinner is served in front of the mighty Dodge.
Cecit dit, nouse ne nouse sommes pas installés aussi facilement qu'on enfile une veille paire de pantoufle. On se sent plûtot comme dans une paire de chaussons neufs qu'on a l'habitude d'acheter, c'est un peu moins confortable au début, mais on sait que ce sera parfait après quelques jour. En effet, habituellement, nous offron le luxe de voyager en voiture (non luxueuse) et de dormir dans les camping qui nous donnet (ce n'est past vraiment donné) un accès à internet et l'électricité, ce qui nous permet de travailler sur la route si nécessaire et de garder ce blogue à jour. Cette année, nous avons décidé de prendre l'avion, de ne pas louer de voiture et de rester au camping de Chief sans internet, ni électricité. Il nous fallait donc trouver un "setup" fonctionnel. J'écris ce blogue et je fais du montage vidéo du camping en utilisant l'internet de mon cellulaire et mon portable se recharge sure le panneau solaire de la magnifique "Climbwagon" à Stéphane Perron. Merci aux amis qui nous amènent en ville pendant les "rest days" pour aller faire l'épicerie et surfer l'internet.
Rest (work) day at the adventure center.
Il faut aussi mentionner l'adaptation au rocher. Madit que y'a des "slopers" à Squamish! En plus, il fait chaud ici, ce qui n'aide pas vraiment à tenir ce genre de prise ... Nos bouts de doigts râpés au sang, nos hanches endolories par les nombreuses talonnades, nos chevilles enflées à force de "jamer" nos pieds dans les fissures, sont des signes bien concrets de la difficulté à se préparer à ce genre d'escalade.
A cozy hoody is a good friend on the road.
Malgré tout, je vous assure que nous avons beaucoup de plaisir! En effect, le bonheur d'être avec les amis dans la magnifique forêt remplie de blocs, à l'autre bout de Canada, surpasse grandement les petits aléas de la semaine d'adaptation.