The Solarium

Description 

A great south-facing wall that hosts a few 1-3 pitch climbs including the classic Sunblessed (5.10b). The approach is fairly long and strenuous and this keeps traffic down a bit.

Getting There 

Follow the Backside Trail from the Chief campground until a sign directs you right for the Sqaw trail. Follow the Squaw trail until you reach the White Cliff. At this point you must head up the gully.

Five minutes up the gully you should see a break in the right wall with a number of big downed trees. Pass this break and after another two minutes you'll see a smaller break in the right wall with a smooth log. Follow the faint trail up this break.

Once through the break head up a faint trail that goes uphill until you emerge into a pleasant forest with a short wall on your right. A a little further and you'll emerge onto slabs marked with a few cairns. Follow the cairns until the trail (visible as a de-mossed line on the slab) re-enters the forest. At this point you are at the Solarium. A trail runs along the base of the cliff. Sunblessed in particular is at the far end of the trail.

The Classics

Featured Route For The Solarium

Sunblessed 5.10c PG13  International : Canada : ... : The Solarium

Sunblessed is a very high quality three pitch climb, popular for its memorable second pitch hand crack. Begin at a bolted dike in the center of the wall.P1: Punch it up the dike at run out 5.9 to the first of a series of bolts. Continue up and then traverse right along the dike at 5.10 to a ramp and the base of a beautiful splitter. P2: Ascend the steep thin-hands crack for 120 feet to a low-angle ramp and belay. 5.10b.P3: Head up and around ...[more]   Browse More Classics in International