The 5.7 Walls
Russ Turner
Russ Turner is an Okanagan Valley local, who spent decades exploring and climbing in the Skaha Bluffs, and helped build them into what they are today. While he has professional experience as a mountain and ski guide, his passion is with rock climbing. In his younger, more “nomadic” days, he would migrate south with the changing seasons, ensuring good climbing all year long. Through his exploration of the climbing meccas in North America and around the world, he came to the conlusion that Skaha is the place he wants to call home.
When Russ first began climbing in Skaha, there were hardly any routes, no facilities, and it was still a closely kept secret to local climbers and a few trusted outsiders. This was typical for the climbing culture of that time, as well as bolting routes and not climbing hard being seen as taboo. But Russ wanted to create a community that welcomes new climbers, and an envoirnment that supports learning these new skills. Over 30 years, Russ has worked more than 4,300 volunteer hours and spent over $30,000 developing routes, trails, and teaching sites for the community.
Photo by Steve Shannon
Russ Turner continues his mission today. By establishing Skaha Rock Adventures Ltd. in 1993, he is able to maintain and develop routes, teach new climbers, and cultivate a positive climbing community. Updates on the film and his story will be posted on this page, and his website can be found here:
