Kira Wall isn't one to spend her summer attached to the boob tube or trying to reach a new high score on her video game system.
No, the 11-year-old Australian and former student at Mamquam Elementary School recently challenged the Stawamus Chief and can now brag to her friends that she has scaled the second largest granite monolith on the planet.
"I really wanted to do it," she said. "The sport of climbing just gives you a nice feeling of satisfaction and I always thought, 'Wouldn't it be cool to climb it.'"
Wall said she's been interested in climbing and been following her father Rob Wall on climbing trips since she was young.
"Climbing is really a lot of fun," she said. "It makes you feel free."
The Walls spent a year in 麻豆社国产before moving back to their native Australia, but the lure of the community they fell in love with brought them back and it was only natural for the father and daughter to take on the Chief.
"I'm a climber and have been climbing for 25 years," said Rob Wall. "There is so much moderate and safe climbing in 麻豆社国产and we've been building Kira up and getting her used to climbing for the last five years."
He said that this was the longest climb Kira has ever done but she seemed to handle it well.
"It was a lot longer than anything we've ever climbed before," he said. "A year ago we just climbed the pitches but this was certainly a length commitment for us."
The duo set out early on June 30 and moved up St. Vitus Dance and the Jungle pitches in short order. However, once they got to the third pitch, the rain arrived. But they kept on trekking, eventually making their way up to the summit.
"I was scared at one point," Kira admitted. "We were climbing above a gully and it was quite a drop below. I was really quite tired but managed to just keep going."
Kira said she's proud of her accomplishment and has already told several surprised friends back home.
"I think it's a big achievement for me," she said. "I don't know of any kids my age who have done that. I told one of my friends and he thought I meant 'hiked.' Then when I told him I climbed it, he was surprised and said 'well done.'"
The Walls hope to visit 麻豆社国产again soon and said they truly enjoyed their time in the Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada.
"I think it's really one of the nicest places in the world," Rob said. "The people are very welcoming and energetic and there's so many fantastic things to do outside."
Kira said she plans to continue climbing, possibly challenging some of Australia's toughest routes.
"I like to climb and definitely want to keep it up," she said. "But I'd like to eventually lead a climb one day."
For more details on Kira's climb, visit Rob's blog at robjwall.wordpress.com/2011/07/09/buttface.
