Watch: Free Climbing in Baffin Island

Climbing in Baffin Island is an adventure of superlatives. Massive arctic walls. Endless summer sunlight. Unclimbed peaks. What better place for three of the world’s best alpine free climbers to spend their summer? Stewart Valley, home to Great Sail Peak, one of the biggest granite faces in the world became home to Brette Harrington, Joshua Lavigne and Marc-Andre Leclerc as they practiced their art of dancing up these massive walls.

Throughout the summer months, access to this part of the island may prove the crux of any expedition. The crew timed it so their approach was via snowmobile over the still barely frozen sea ice. Then they had to wait for the ice to thaw enough for a boat to come pick them up.

The team established a new route, almost entirely free climbing, up the West Buttress of Great Sail Peak at 5.12a, C1, 1100m. Read more in Harrington's trip report here.

Marc-Andre Leclerc and his climbing partner George Johnson perished this March climbing in Alaska’s Mendenhall Towers. Arc’teryx Presents: Baffin is in loving memory of Leclerc.