A mystery surrounding the disappearance of a beloved granite rock used by climbers in Squamish, B.C., has been partly solved. The rock, known as Portable, was highly valued by local climbers for its ideal shape and size for balance practice and grip training. Ethan Salvo, a 23-year-old Squamish rock climber, expressed surprise and confusion when Portable went missing last fall, considering its significance to the community.
However, the missing rock has now been located. While on a climbing trip in Bishop, Calif., Salvo came across a photo on social media showing the rock, adorned with a Canadian drinking toque, not far from his campsite. After confirming its identity with a friend, Portable was found to be sitting in its unique attire, blending into the landscape.
Salvo’s friend retrieved the hefty 32-kilogram rock and brought it back to their camp, where Salvo reunited with Portable, recognizing its familiar shape and weight. Despite the distance from its original location in Squamish, Salvo’s strong connection to the rock allowed him to identify it with certainty. The rock’s unexpected journey to California remains a mystery, but Salvo believes it may have been unknowingly taken by a visitor to the Squamish area.
Portable will soon be returned to its rightful place at the base of the Superfly boulder in Squamish, as Salvo plans to restore it to its home within the climbing community.
