Photos by yeti

The traverse on One Pine, a classic Farm Rock route. The break through the roof above remains unclimbed. Aiders anyone? Myself climbing, photo by Souren Beylerian.

Alexandre Deslauriers near the top of Primal Scream, one of a handful of enjoyable climbs at the Upper Slabs.

Scott Woods on one of the classic harder routes at the Cwm. Luckily, the holds through the crux roof are fairly good. Photo: Y.Troutet

Rapping down the right end of the Red Wall, an area of recent developments. Like climbing on a painting.

A view of Mont-King from the approach trail. The left end is steep and very blocky. It has a handful of exposed trad routes. The middle section is severely overhanging and has some of the most impressive lines at Val-David. The headwall on the right is called Le Mur and boasts excellent multipitch routes. The cliff extends further right into the forest. Photo: Yann Troutet.

This is one of my favorite portraits of my partner Souren: as always relaxed, definitely a vertically minded being.

Here we're climbing during a summer thunderstorm in Val David. The area of la Zébrée overhangs several meters and stays continuously dry. La Zébrée is one of only a few aid routes left in Val David. Several attemps at freeing the line have been unsuccesful. The route follows an overhanging finger/hand crack through 25 metres of roofs and faces. A good candidate for becoming Québec's first 5.14. Photo: Yann Troutet

La Cage aux Folles (the scoop/corner on the left) is an excellent 5.10 pitch that offers a nice multipitch experience when linked to any of a number of routes found below.

This is me celebrating the St-Jean-Baptiste (Québecers hold the 24th of June as their flag-waving day) under a baking sun on the first ascent of Bonzaï.

The highest part of Arapiles. If you look closely, you can just make out some coloured dots on the cliff. There are actually 4 or 5 parties on the face. Photo: Yann Troutet.

Muldoon takes the right arete of the main face. The Agamemnon areas comprises the pillars and chimneys to the right.

Thiéry rappelling the Second Chapter. The obvious corner left, The Good Book, is an excellent 5.7 layback. The pillar that forms the route is just leaning against the cliff, though. Yikes!

After the traverse, on Muldoon. Above this is a joyful jughaul with more available pro than it is reasonable to own!

An anonymous party on Low Down, a diagonal traverse through the overhangs of Castle Crag. Photo: Yann Troutet.

The first of three abseils leading to the seaside platform on which stands the 25 m high Moai. The Moai is the little cousin of the world famous Totem pole, which is located a few km down the coast.

Lucky and Claire at Coles Bay. Some of the best rock I've been given to set hands on. An amazing number of possibilities, established and virgin. With the beating sound of crashing waves. Photo: Yann Troutet.

The Bard is a classic five-pitch climb up this distinctive buttress. Each pitch is a gem. Not to mention the descent route: via a cave, literally through to the other side of the mountain. Photo: Yann Troutet

On the plumb-line 5.9 finger crack/corner called No Heroes. In this case, however, we're heading for the first ascent of Bonsaï, a second pitch A2 variant left of the obvious cedar tree. Myself climbing, Souren Beylerian photo.

A view of the highest, steepest part of the cliff. The obvious diagonal crack is the ultimate local classic: Black and White, 3 pitches, 5.11. In the shadow to the left are a handful of slightly easier routes. On either side of Black and White are several hard routes, trad and sport. The province's longest sport climb (Que ton Règne Vienne) takes a direct vertical line crossing BnW halfway up the cliff. (photo: Y. Troutet)

Probably the most photographed route on the escarpment, and a good one too! Follows a steep corner that takes you out over the treetops to a spectacular situation (that is if you can manage the crux 5.7-ish move off the ground). In the background are the Ottawa Valley lowlands - you can just make out the river on the right. Photo: Yann Troutet

As seen from the top of l'aiguille de l'M. The background peak is Blaitière, the rock face on the left is part of the Grands Charmoz complex. Photo: Yann Troutet

L'arête des cosmiques, just out of the cable-car station is an outrageously popular climb. On this occasion however, the weather was so bad there were only two parties on the route. Here I photographed the anonymous following party crossing one of several small cols on the ridge. Photo: Yann Troutet

The first of two abseils on the Arête des cosmiques. The streaks in the sky are blowing snow. The dark image is a personal touch. Photo: Yann Troutet

Pierre Callico looking down on a serac face in the Massif du Mont Blanc. Photo: Yann Troutet

Jacques Flamand on the Ménégaux route of l'aiguille de l'M. He had climbed the route once before, over 40 years back! At 67, Jacques now has no complexes about climbing in full-jeans attire! Photo: Yann Troutet