Slhanay, formerly known as The Squaw is a large
dome
A dome () is an architectural element similar to the hollow upper half of a sphere. There is significant overlap with the term cupola, which may also refer to a dome or a structure on top of a dome. The precise definition of a dome has been a m ...
of
granitic
A granitoid is a generic term for a diverse category of coarse-grained igneous rocks that consist predominantly of quartz, plagioclase, and alkali feldspar. Granitoids range from plagioclase-rich tonalites to alkali-rich syenites and from quart ...
rock located adjacent to the town of
Squamish,
British Columbia
British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...
. Although the mountain, known as ''Slhanay'' in the
language of the Skwxwu7mesh people is indeed an impressive geological formation, it tends to be overshadowed by the
Stawamus Chief
The Stawamus Chief, officially Stawamus Chief Mountain (often referred to as simply The Chief, or less commonly Squamish Chief), is a granitic dome located adjacent to the town of Squamish, British Columbia, Canada. It towers over above the wat ...
, a much larger granitic dome located immediately south-west.
The use of the term "
squaw
The English word ''squaw'' is an ethnic and sexual slur, historically used for Indigenous North American women. Contemporary use of the term, especially by non-Natives, is considered derogatory, misogynist, and racist.King, C. Richard,De/Scri ...
" as a name for the dome is controversial. For a long time, no alternative had been successfully applied, probably due in large part to local tradition and an inability to get such an alternative name to "stick". This was remedied in 2009 when the new name Slhanay was adopted for the area after consultation with local First Nations.
The Slhanay is situated within the boundaries of the
Stawamus Chief Provincial Park. A partially maintained hiking trail, accessible from the Chief's main "backside" trail, leads to the Slhanay summit area. This trail is rugged and the Slhanay summit area is seldom visited. However, the sheer rock walls on Slhanay's west face are greatly appreciated by
rock climbers
Rock climbing is a sport in which participants climb up, across, or down natural rock formations. The goal is to reach the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a usually pre-defined route without falling. Rock climbing is a physically and ...
who access them from the nearby Mamquam
Forest Service Road
A gravel road is a type of unpaved road surfaced with gravel that has been brought to the site from a quarry or stream bed. They are common in less-developed nations, and also in the rural areas of developed nations such as Canada and the Uni ...
.
References
Stawamus Chief Provincial ParkStawamus Chief and Shannon Falls Provincial Parks Brochure Map*
Mountains of British Columbia under 1000 metres
Sea-to-Sky Corridor
North Shore Mountains
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