Learn More

Route Retrofitting

Climbing history in Alberta extends far into the past with many people contributing to routes all over the province. Bolting standards vary quite a bit and even more as you head into the past. Combine old hardware and varying quality standards and you'll find hangars and anchor stations needing to be replaced.

Retrofitting efforts seek to remove the wrong hardware and old hardware. This applies to anchor stations on trad or sport routes, or to bolts on sport routes.

Courtesy Ontario Climbing

Route Development

Many pitches for climbing are around 30m in length and will be equipped with a dozen or more hangars and an anchor station to create a well bolted climb. A climb equipped as such could cost:

  • 12 bolts: 12 x $3.50 = $24
  • 12 hangars: 12 x $5 = $24
  • Anchor Station: $30
  • Total: $132

That cost is just for a single route. You can imagine the costs that have gone into developing whole crags is substantial, and typically out of the developers own pocket.