Hidden Valley - Slab Emporium

WARNING! Rock Climbing, Mountaineering and Skiing are, by their very nature, potentially hazardous activities. The information presented here is intended as an adjunct to, not a replacement for, sound judgment and experience. The accuracy of the information presented cannot be guaranteed and may change with time. The onus is on the individual to verify the applicability of the information to a given time and environment before using it as the basis of any kind of decision. In addition, accurate knowledge of the use of various safety devices and systems is requisite to understanding the information presented and in determining it's applicability to your situations. Always use a backup to your systems where a failure could result in death or injury. Nature offers few second chances for poor or inappropriate application of information and techniques. The Law of Gravity has no Court of Appeal. This must not be your only source of information on any given climbing route or subject. Seek additional information from guidebooks, reputable climbing schools, mountain guides, local climbers, Park Wardens and Rangers. Common sense and a strong will to survive must pervade your thoughts and actions. By using the information contained here, you are releasing the authors and Rescue Dynamics from any liability for any injury, including death, that may occur. You have been warned.

Before you head out, check the Current Conditions Page for beta on what has been happening. Then check the weather on our constantly improving super weather page: Weather Forecasts for Canada - All on One Page.

The Slab Emporium is located at the end of the last pitch of Alaska Bob. The last pitch of Alaska Bob as described in the Jasper Rock guidebook starts at a massive grassy alcove above which is a cool slab about 50 or more meters wide. This area can be gained from many routes and may also be reached by hiking along the top of the ridge from either side. Six sets of double bolt anchors sit on top of this slab which has been used for honing slab technique for almost 20 years. Grades vary from 5.0 on the left to 5.9 on the right. Every conceivable route has been led, soloed or top roped and a number of short introductory slab problems were bolted by Dave Devin and Cyril Shokoples in September 1998, to allow for blood free leading of all difficulties. The final pitch of Alaska Bob was first climbed in the 80s by Cyril Shokoples and Tom Saunders in vibram soles (Galibier® soled RR rock boots actually) with only a single piton for protection, as was Five Thin, so don't complain about them being runout. Five Thin is scheduled for retrofitting in summer 2000.

The routes which have protection on them are 12 - 22m long and are as follows:

Five Sex 5.6 - 2 bolts - farthest left bolts
Five Slippin' 5.6 - 2 bolts
Five Heat 5.7 - 3 bolts - easy move over overlap then thin prickly slab
Cross Eyed 5.7 - 3 bolts - pass single bolt on lower slab then up tricky step up overlap
Cross Dresser 5.7 - 4 bolts - start on Sharp Dresser, finish on Cross Eyed
Sharp Dresser 5.7 - 3 bolts - up past 2 bolts then head right to third bolt
Dead 5.8 - 3 bolts - solo up to a vegetated ledge then go past 3 bolts
Alaska Bob 5.8/9r - 2 clips - up slab to a shallow corner (piton), then runout past a single bolt
Five Thin 5.9r - 1 piton - serious ground-fall potential / runout slab right of Alaska Bob

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