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The Plum, difficult new trad mixed route in Canada by Jon Walsh and Marc-Andre Leclerc

On 08/11/2014 the Canadian climbers Marc-Andre Leclerc and Jon Walsh made the first ascent of The Plum (WI6 M7, 120m) at the Storm Creek Headwall, Kootenay National Park B.C.

Planetmountain

November 2014

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Jon Walsh at the start of the second pitch of The Plum (WI6 M7, 120m, Marc-Andre Leclerc, Jon Walsh 08/11/2014), Storm Creek Headwall, Kootenay National Park, Canada.

Jon Walsh

Last Saturday Canadian climbers Marc-Andre Leclerc and Jon Walsh kicked off their winter season in style with the first ascent a new route on the Storm Creek Headwall, the cliff located in Canada's Kootenay National Park. Called The Plum, the route follows a line described by Walsh as having been "in my dreams for the past decade."

Walsh had in fact attempted the line once before, with Rich Marshall in 2004. At the time Marshall succeeded in"the wildest pitch" he had ever led, but the two retreated due to incoming darkness and the unknown difficulties ahead.

Walsh returned on other occasions but unfortunately the route rarely comes into condition. Three ago Raphael Slawinski and Grant Meekins made the first ascent of the trad mixed route The Peach immediately to the left of The Plum.

Leclerc and Walsh climbed their tenuous, tricky and at times serious three pitch line without adding bolts. After the ascent Walsh commented "It was also an amazing feeling to have walked up to a line such as this, and to have completed it first try without placing any bolts. We did carry a bolt kit in the pack, but fortunately that was where it stayed."

For the full report check out Walsh's website. It's worth noting that he concludes by stating that "this line comes highly recommended to those who like the style of proper traditional mixed, in a wild setting :)"

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