Hanging on in Gatineau Park Bouldering: the 100-metre dash for climbers
BY DAVID KAWAI IT’S A BIT INTIMIDATING to get dragged into the heart of Gatineau Park by one of Canada’s top rock climbers. “I hope you like mud,” says Jody Miall, stuffing climbing gear into his pack and heading for the trail. Pant legs rolled up, we hike the narrowing path for 10 minutes before Jody stops and points up the hill. “If you go that way there are some good sport climbs,” he says, promptly turning his back on them. Miall isn’t climbing routes today; he has no rope, no carabineers (draws) and no belay devices. We keep walking. The path gets narrower still and steep beyond comfort. Another 15 minutes pass and we arrive at The Shrine. It’s like the secluded home of a handful of 15- to 20-foot boulders, enclosed by trees in every direction.
Jody Miall spots his landing while crimping down on one of Gatineau Park’s Shrine boulders.
