Remember what sports you were playing when you were four years old? For most of us we splashed about in kiddie pools, played tag in our yards, maybe got in a game of soccer or two. (If you call 14 urchins running haphazardly around a field chasing bugs “soccer.”) If you grew up in the [...]

Two Nelson, British Columbia residents, prove why they live in the best place on the planet by going backcountry skiing, rock climbing, lake swimming and mountain biking … all in one day and all within 20 kilometres of the city.

So after countless years of climbers skulking around the Lions Head in Robson, scrambling up some scrappy trad lines hopeful that they wouldn’t get caught, the land owner of the Lions Head Pub has decided to give the green light to climbing on his property. And by green light, I mean he’s decided to turn [...]

On October 6th, 2010, Chris Swetland and Aaron Kristiansen put up a new route called “Face to Face,” a 5.10d sport route on the Raspberry Wall, Arrow Lakes. Just as he started the route Chris kicked a hornet’s nest and he and Aaron were swarmed. Turn up the volume to enjoy the profanity and hilarity.

Madame Butterfly 5.10a sport (two stars, we’re not biased!). FA Mike Curran and Hamish Mutch, July 24, 2010; 60 m rope required (pitches are just under 30 m each) Approach – from access trail for the left side climbs at Waterfall Wall, go across sloping ledge and follow trail which dips down across sloping grass [...]

Onion Creek is reported to have a few of the best cracks in the Kootenays. Here’s what Keith Robbins says in his short guide to the Onion Creek area: Onion Creek is mostly a granite crack climbing area, although some bolts are starting to go in. There is a bit of climbing at most grades. [...]

It never ceases to amaze me that I live in a place where I can drive from my home and be at the base of crag in few minutes, only to step off a paved road, walk 20 meters to a rock face and embark on a ground up first accent of a naturally clean [...]

Mt Gimli is the centerpiece (centerpeak?) of the Valhallas. First climbed in 1973 by P. Koedt, P. Rowat, N. Rowat, G. Shannon, and J. Hamlin, the South Ridge is one of the best climbs of it’s grade in the Kootenays. It’s certainly one of the most famous. This was my, and my partner Scott Meyers, [...]