In late Summer time and Fall 2024, Hamish McArthur frolicked in Squamish. Over the course of the previous few months, he’s run by way of most of the city’s hardest boulder issues, and even established a number of himself. The 22-year-old Paris Olympic finalist’s Squamish go to is harking back to Connor Herson’s in 2023 and 2024, albeit for bouldering relatively than trad and sport.
McArthur began his Squamish bouldering with a prime of I Shot the Sheriff V13, following that up with a repeat of North Ridge V14. In late September, he made the primary ascent of Life Is Limbo, suggesting a grade of V13. Two months later, close to the top of November, he made one other first ascent by climbing a sit begin to the favored Frontside V12 within the Apron Boulders. He named the issue Bottom Blowout, grading it V14.
From right here, issues actually decide up. On November 28, he made the sixth ascent of The Singularity V15, considered one of Squamish’s hardest boulder issues. Established by Tim Clifford in 2007 and initially graded V14, subsequent ascensionists have began the issue from a decrease maintain, upping the issue. Nalle Hukkataival made the second ascent in 2017, and it’s since seen repeats from Lucas Uchida, Ethan Salvo, and Andy Lamb.
“Final Thursday, in a proleptic state of rapture, I knelt earlier than The Singularity,” stated McArthur on Instagram. “There is only one video, exhibiting one single try of me on this iconic granite line, which matches some option to clarify my disbelief as I slowly ascend past the lip. It’s not even that I couldn’t comprehend the miracle of linking strikes that I hadn’t but carried out, however that house and time themselves have been hiding from me, that I used to be each unfold throughout the universe and infinitely dense, multi function place, attempting to not overthink if I used to be dreaming.”
McArthur then had an unbelievable three days of climbing in a row, flashing Idiot Me As soon as V14 on day 1, sending Sword within the Stone V14 on his second go on day 2, and topping Seven V14/15 on day 3. Idiot Me As soon as, previously often called The Megg, isn’t a boulder you’d actually think about “flashable”. The 20-foot bloc is quintessential Squamish in model. It options dangerous toes, awful slopers, crystal crimping, and technical, balancey physique positioning.
After it’s first ascent by Andy Lamb in 2023, Idiot Me As soon as was repeated later that 12 months by Lucas Uchida and Ethan Salvo. Discovered north of Squamish-proper, the crimpy and highly effective Sword within the Stone was established by Salvo in October 2023. The ultra-athletic Seven was put up by Uchida in Might 2023. It’s seen repeats by a lot of North America’s finest, together with Lamb, Salvo, Keenan Takahashi, and Zach Galla, amongst others.
“I don’t get moments this intense fairly often, and normally once they do come up it’s an inappropriate setting to scream ‘what the fuck’ repeatedly whereas respiration like a horse,” stated McArthur about Idiot Me As soon as on Instagram. Thanks to my information [Ethan Salvo] for educating me the right way to crystal whisper my method up this granite tech compression check piece, and to [Quinn Mason] for all of the help and images.”
