The historic tale of the Alaskan gold rush, when local prospectors headed north to seek their fortune in the American state more than a century ago, is well known but these days there鈥檚 a reverse rush of a different kind 鈥� Alaskans heading south to climb in Squamish.
Six students and their professor from Alaska Pacific University, based in Anchorage, are in Squamish for four weeks to rock climb.聽
鈥淪quamish is a world-class destination for learning traditional climbing,鈥� said Eeva Latosuo, professor of outdoor studies. 鈥淚n Alaska we don鈥檛 have this type of accessible climbing.鈥澛�
Outdoor recreation students from the university, a small private liberal arts institution, have come a few times over the years, Latosuo said. 聽
Activities over the course of the month include top-rope climbing, lead climbing and multi-pitch climbing at Shannon Falls and the Stawamus Chief.
鈥淲e love climbing here because there is so much鈥� really good climbing for even a beginner climber, and a very safe setting,鈥� she said.
The three men and three women, along with Latosuo and two co-instructors, camp while in the district.聽
Latosuo said the students鈥� impression of Squamish has been very positive.聽
鈥淧eople feel very welcomed,鈥� she said. One of the students drove by herself from Alaska to Squamish for the course and when she arrived in the district she raved about how many people had been willing to help her along the way.聽
Previous students have made trips back to Squamish after the course, Latosuo said.
In addition to climbing, the students, who range in age from 20 to 29 years old, also spent a day helping improve a trail at Murrin Provincial Park.聽
鈥淭hey were an engaging and varied group,鈥� said trail builder Brian Moorhead, of the Squamish Access Society, who hosted the students at the park.
鈥淚 particularly like groups from outdoor programs since some of them will come with useful skills and need less supervision.鈥�
Moorhead added the work the students did would have cost the society $1,000 if he had hired professional trail contractors.聽
The students built two switchbacks into the Murrin Loop trail.聽
鈥淲e helped put young people鈥檚 backs and strengths to work,鈥� Latosuo said, with a laugh. 聽
Moorhead said he exchanged information and stories with the students and learned about stewardship issues in Alaska from them.
Latosuo said it is important for students to engage with the community and give back.聽
鈥淓ven though we are just visitors, I have sought out opportunities to do community service while we are here,鈥� she said.聽
The work teaches the students what goes into the trails they so often utilize, Latosuo said.聽
鈥淪everal students commented afterward that they had no idea how much work and skill goes into building trails,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hat is the point of why we do it as a class activity. We get a true appreciation of how much it does take from a community to be able to have infrastructure to be able to support thousands of climbers coming in just to visit.鈥澛�
The students head back to Alaska on Friday.聽
