The Squamish Chief’s recognition of Jim Sinclair [ “Iconic Squamish climb was first conquered 60 years ago,” published June 16] as a notable member of the Squamish climbing community is well deserved. He is modest when it comes to recounting his personal experiences as a climber.
Yet, I suspect there are few climbers who span the years from Baldwin and Cooper’s first ascent of the Grand Wall to the present and have Jim’s talent as an oral historian of Squamish climbing.
His narration of that ascent “In the Shadow of the Chief” bespeaks of a natural storyteller.
Over the past many summers before becoming a permanent resident, I’d run into Jim at Starbucks where he would hold forth on past and present events of note in the climbing community with an unmistakable fluency and self-deprecating charm.
Jim has been my window into Squamish climbing; the players, the high points, the rescues, and the tragedies comprise the remarkable history of Squamish as possibly Canada’s best-known rock climbing venue. He still can often be found hiking the trails in Smoke Bluffs or at an outdoor table of Starbucks. Just the other day, I found Jim checking out a route that his very accomplished granddaughter might find challenging.
John Hughes
Squamish
