Hart and Dain-Owens Blaze Through Squamish
Over the last few days, the Canadian-American duo Sarah Hart and Susie Dain-Owens have pulled off the Squamish Double-Double with their recent link up of Banana Peel and Over the Rainbow on the northwest face of the Apron (30,000 cm), nearly in a single twenty-four window. The duo has pursued this highly coveted link-up for several years, but torrential rains have thwarted multiple attempts. In total their feat involved 60,000 vertical centimetres of free climbing over millions of granite crystals. The pair estimated that they climbed the link-up in six pitches, with extensive simul-climbing and walking between pitches.
Hart and Dain-Owens began climbing at 7:30 p.m. on June 8 at the base of the Stawamus Chief, summiting the Banana Peel Route (5.16/2) one hour later. The party took advantage of the unseasonably cool conditions to cover the large amount of technical terrain on this slabby test-piece. They then went to bed and woke up to a house devoid of coffee or cream. This minor setback was overcomed with a visit to the Squamish Farmer’s Market, where the team re-fueled with locally baked pastries. After top-roping a few more steep crack lines in Murrin Park, they drove to the base of the Apron. They began climbing the route Over the Rainbow (5.14-5) at 6:00 p.m. on June 9, passing a party enroute, and then summiting and completing the linkup at 7:30 p.m. that day. “My foot flew out just as I dyno’ed to the crimp – luckily Sarah ‘my down jacket stuffs down into a silver tube’ Hart was above me, shouting beta so I could get the redpoint on TR!,” Susie said. Echos resembling hyenas laughing could be heard through the valley as they neared the summit. “It was incredible to summit the Apron, it was so radical. It was a pretty sweet line that we took,” Hart writes.
The team is now resting at base camp, waiting for another weather window before attempting their next objective. Stay tuned.
Summary:
Date of Ascent: June 8-9, 2012
Banana Peel on the Apron -1:00
Over the Rainbow on the Apron – 1:30
Total time of the all-free link-up (including yoga, coffee, etc.) – 24:00
Wow, Rich! An epic report of an epic send. Your coverage had me on the edge of my seat!
p.s. love your new banner photo.
Susie and I were feeling pretty tense during the whole ascent. Not sure if we'd complete the send due to lack of coffee, and wind blowing hair in our faces, but, through shear will power, we overcame to achieve great success. Thank you Susie for the send of a lifetime!
Rich, thanks for such a great trip report. You've immortalized this day – definitely a red-point of a lifetime! I am just reminiscing about this early summer double summit send session… Your epic blow-by-blow is so vivid, I feel like I am on the Apron again! Wind blowing hair and lack of coffee and dynos for dinner. Sarah, I eagerly await our next ascent!
woooww
This photo is very nice and you are very brave admin