UKC

Major Rockfall on Squamish Chief

© Marc Bourdon

A major rockslide has occurred on the  West Chief - also known as the Stawamus Chief - in Canada. No climbers or walkers are believed to have been affected by the incident on Sunday 19th April, despite initial concerns that parties may have been present under the slide. However, a ground search has been put on hold until it is deemed safe to enter the area.

An estimated one thousand cubic metres of granite gave way on the North Walls of the peak, causing tremors which were felt by local residents and plumes of dust were visible rising from the piles of rubble. 

A group of climbers were ascending the route The Angel's Crest (5.10b) just metres from the slide when it occurred, but fortunately managed to escape from the face unscathed.

Safety assessments of the face by geoscientists are currently underway to ascertain the structural integrity of the rock, which remains unstable following the incident.

It is unknown as yet when the area will re-open to climbing.

 


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22 Apr, 2015
Glad to read no-one was hurt. Will there be a rush to try the best new lines?
23 Apr, 2015
There's a wee video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Dc91-R16VI Danny.
23 Apr, 2015
I was climbing Calculus Crack at the time, on the Apron to the right of the North Wall and saw the whole thing come off. The YouTube video shows it pretty well (taken by a group of guys just ahead of us on the same climb). Totally terrifying, especially as that area is pretty popular for it's long-difficult routes. Police said that everyone who was climbing in that area has been accounted for.
27 Apr, 2015
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