Sonnie Trotter
Encyclopedia
Sonnie Trotter is a Canadian
professional climber
, known for his strength in many rock climbing
disciplines, contributing to hundreds of first ascent
s around the world. Trotter began climbing in 1997 at age 16, and soon became the first Canadian
to climb 5.14c the third North American
to have established
a 5.14d route. In more recent years, Trotter has gained notoriety for his support of clean trad routes over bolted routes, and his first ascent
of the Cobra Crack in Squamish
, British Columbia
.
Sonnie also made Squamish history in 2006 when he and his climbing partner Matt Segal connected The Shadow 5.13b, The Grand Wall 5.13b and The Black Dyke 5.13b on the Stawamus Chief
all free in a single 12 hour push.
Trotter has been featured in 3 award winning films. "The Cobra Crack", won best short film at the BIMFF in 2006. "If you're not falling" won Best Short Film at BIMFF in 2008 and "First Ascent" is the winner of multiple awards.
Sonnie Trotter is also a writer, photographer and public speaker. He is also certified as an assistant Rock Climbing Guide through the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
professional climber
Climbing
Climbing is the activity of using one's hands and feet to ascend a steep object. It is done both for recreation and professionally, as part of activities such as maintenance of a structure, or military operations.Climbing activities include:* Bouldering: Ascending boulders or small...
, known for his strength in many rock climbing
Rock climbing
Rock climbing also lightly called 'The Gravity Game', is a sport in which participants climb up, down or across natural rock formations or artificial rock walls. The goal is to reach the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a pre-defined route without falling...
disciplines, contributing to hundreds of first ascent
First ascent
In climbing, a first ascent is the first successful, documented attainment of the top of a mountain, or the first to follow a particular climbing route...
s around the world. Trotter began climbing in 1997 at age 16, and soon became the first Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
to climb 5.14c the third North American
North American
North American generally refers to an entity, people, group, or attribute of North America, especially of the United States and Canada together.-Culture:*North American English, a collective term used to describe American English and Canadian English...
to have established
First ascent
In climbing, a first ascent is the first successful, documented attainment of the top of a mountain, or the first to follow a particular climbing route...
a 5.14d route. In more recent years, Trotter has gained notoriety for his support of clean trad routes over bolted routes, and his first ascent
First ascent
In climbing, a first ascent is the first successful, documented attainment of the top of a mountain, or the first to follow a particular climbing route...
of the Cobra Crack in Squamish
Squamish, British Columbia
Squamish is a community and a district municipality in the Canadian province of British Columbia, located at the north end of Howe Sound on the Sea to Sky Highway...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
.
Sonnie also made Squamish history in 2006 when he and his climbing partner Matt Segal connected The Shadow 5.13b, The Grand Wall 5.13b and The Black Dyke 5.13b on the Stawamus Chief
Stawamus Chief
The Stawamus Chief is a granite dome located adjacent to the town of Squamish, British Columbia. It towers over above the waters of nearby Howe Sound...
all free in a single 12 hour push.
Trotter has been featured in 3 award winning films. "The Cobra Crack", won best short film at the BIMFF in 2006. "If you're not falling" won Best Short Film at BIMFF in 2008 and "First Ascent" is the winner of multiple awards.
Sonnie Trotter is also a writer, photographer and public speaker. He is also certified as an assistant Rock Climbing Guide through the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides
Association of Canadian Mountain Guides
These initials may also mean the American College of Medical Genetics.The Association of Canadian Mountain Guides is Canada's only internationally recognised guide association. The Association has over 700 members, and coordinates internationally recognised training and certification...
.
Notable Ascents
- Superman (5.14c, FAFirst ascentIn climbing, a first ascent is the first successful, documented attainment of the top of a mountain, or the first to follow a particular climbing route...
in 2002) Link up of Cheakamus Canyon's Pulse (5.14a), Captain America (5.14b) and Gom Jabbar (5.13b) continuing through the crux of Patience (5.14a) - Forever Expired (5.14d, FAFirst ascentIn climbing, a first ascent is the first successful, documented attainment of the top of a mountain, or the first to follow a particular climbing route...
in 2004) OntarioOntarioOntario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
's hardest route to date - East Face of Monkey Face (5.13d R, FGAFirst ascentIn climbing, a first ascent is the first successful, documented attainment of the top of a mountain, or the first to follow a particular climbing route...
in 2004) Original established by Smith Rock pioneer Alan Watts, Trotter red pointed the East Face on trad lead - Cobra Crack (5.14, FAFirst ascentIn climbing, a first ascent is the first successful, documented attainment of the top of a mountain, or the first to follow a particular climbing route...
in June, 2006) Considered one of the world's hardest crack climbs - Rhapsody (5.14b/c R, second ascent in June 2008) World's first E11
- Necessary Evil (5.14c)
- Just Do It (5.14c)
- The Path (5.14a) Trad lead
- "sugar daddy" (soft 5.14a Trad) first ascent in May 2010 at nightmare rock in squamish BC. kind of scary, but not a scary as driving the new minivan to the cliff....