Coup d'Etat

Coup d'Etat is a famous, highly challenging rock climbing route located in Chek Canyon near Squamish, British Columbia. Chek Canyon is widely known for housing some of the steepest and most gymnastic granite sport climbs in Canada. The area is heavily frequented by elite climbers pushing their physical limits.

Coup d'Etat is rated around 5.13d in the Yosemite Decimal System, making it an incredibly difficult and technical ascent. It is considered a major, benchmark testpiece due to its sustained, wildly overhanging nature. The climb involves desperate, athletic moves on positive crimps and steep tufa-like features.

Coup d'Etat was established by local climbers pushing the limits of difficult free climbing in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Routes of this grade in Chek Canyon helped put Canadian sport climbing on the global map. It has since been visited and famously climbed by top international professionals like Chris Sharma.

Coup d'Etat is exclusively a bolted sport climb, meaning climbers rely on pre-placed expansion bolts for safety rather than traditional gear. The route features incredibly steep, gymnastic face climbing on sheer, heavily overhanging granite. Climbers must possess intense upper body strength and core tension to stay attached to the wall.