TRIPS

Rock climbers love to travel, and the staff at Squamish Rock Guides are no different. We have been to the four corners of the globe and back in search of great climbing. Our Trips program is designed to provide some excellent climbing alternatives to Squamish and to spark your imagination about what lies beyond our local cliffs.

The following three locations are all reasonable alternatives to Squamish in the case of poor weather. It is possible for Squamish Rock Guides to provide guiding services and instructional courses at these various areas. For all the Trip programs, please contact us to discuss options, get a quote, or to set up a private course.

Skaha - Penticton, BC
The Okanagan town of Penticton is home to, arguably, the second best rock climbing destination in British Columbia - Skaha. The bluffs are perched high above a lake in grassy, wide-open meadows and it's not uncommon to spot sheep, coyotes and deer while wandering the labyrinth of well-groomed trails. The climbing is mostly single-pitch on excellent well-featured stone.

The are hundreds of enjoyable sport climbs at all levels and there is a wide assortment of enticing cracks, for those that prefer trad. The best season is usually spring and fall as the area gets very hot mid-summer. Often, when it is raining in Squamish, the sun will be shining on Skaha making it an excellent rain alternative if poor weather is spoiling plans on the Coast. Driving time from Vancouver is approximately 5 hours.

Leavenworth, Washington
Almost directly south of Skaha, in the interior of Washington, is a series of deep canyons filled with granite domes and walls. The climbing is centered around the town of Leavenworth, providing excellent camping and accommodation in close proximity to the rocks. Like Skaha, the climate is very warm and dry, making this a great rain alternative to Squamish in wet weather.

There is a good variety of single-pitch cragging and multi-pitch adventures in Leavenworth. The granite tends to be smooth, lending itself to either friction slabs or definitive crack lines. Not to be missed is one of the best multi-pitch climbs in Washington, Outer Space, a five pitch adventure of stellar crack and face climbing up the Snow Creek Wall. This single route is reason enough to make the trip to Leavenworth, despite the weather in Squamish. Driving time from Vancouver is approximately 4.5 hours.

Smith Rock - Oregon
In sunny central Oregon is the world-famous climbing area of Smith Rock. The cliffs are spread along the Crooked River and are comprised of a number of volcanic towers and walls providing some magnificent face climbing. The rock is heavily featured with edges, pockets and knobs scattered across the orange faces.

Although single-pitch face climbs are most common, some exposed multi-pitch and crack routes are also available. The town of Bend is only half an hour away providing great accommodation and countless opportunities for rest days. Smith Rock is a great rain alternative when the weather is wet around Squamish. Driving time is approximately 10 hours from Vancouver.

Exotic Destinations
The following is a partial list of some "exotic" locations that we can provide guiding for. Each of these destinations is an area in which we've got climbing experience and this allows us to maximize time spent climbing there. If you're interested in traveling to one of these areas, please contact us to inquire about guiding services and trip planning.

• Yosemite, California
• Red Rocks, Nevada
• Portrero Chico, Mexico
• Rai Lay, Thailand
• Kalymnos, Greece
• Vinales, Cuba
• Verdon Gorge, France
• Bishop, California
• El Chorro, Spain
• Fontainbleau, France
• Moab, Utah
• Red River Gorge, Kentucky
• Tuolumne Meadows, California
• Montserrat, Spain