Mental Block – 5.11a ↓
Description:
New route in the Grand Canyon area. 20m to the right (north) of “Bottom Line”.
30m, 11 Bolts (2 fixed).
The bottom few meters of the route seem to perpetually seep. Oddly there are holds available that stay dry - don’t let the water turn you away.
Stem and layback up the obvious corner to a chimney and then stem box. Exit the stem box turning around the block out left with tiny feet perched in space. Climb up the headwall slab bumping a right hand up the arete. The final bolt protects the last difficult move, then jugs up the arete to the anchor. (Bolted & FA: Matt Laird, 2025)
Recent Sendage:
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2026-05-22New favourite climb in Skaha. This line is ridiculously fun! No overtly powerful moves. Lots of good rests along the way due to the nature of stemming. Take your time and soak this one up; it's a blast! Was warned it was stiff for the grade so TR'ed it first time and cruised it. Felt very soft for the grade to me, but I love a good corner crack. Came back a few days later for the lead and felt just as fun and cruisy. I even found a great hold I missed the first time around the arete at the top that was the crux for me on TR. There are definitely a couple spots that can be heady on lead, especially if trad isn't your jam. -
2026-05-21
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2026-05-05Incredibly fun climb with a lot going on. I thought the top had a strangely insecure move where you don't expect it. Reid barn doored this part and got pegged by the flakey arete up top -
2026-04-30easily one of the best lines in Skaha, killer addition to the area Matt. Worthy of being top 100 for sure. -
2025-09-30Maybe I was tired but this felt too adventurous for me
