Sonnie Trotter, 5.12 Solo, and 5.13 R Trad Climbing in Squamish, Canada, with sidekick Alex Honnold

Cedar Wright’s “Captain Canada” is a quick, character-driven portrait of Sonnie Trotter in Squamish, British Columbia—one of Canada’s most accomplished trad climbers and an effortless presence on steep stone. With Alex Honnold along as the wide-eyed sidekick, the film drops into the rhythm of cracks, granite texture, and big-cliff pedigree as Sonnie steps up to serious climbing with the calm of someone who’s spent a lifetime earning it. What makes this short worth your time is the mix of charm and genuine edge: Sonnie soloing the 5.12 crack “Final Cut,” then launching straight into the “Lake of Fire,” a 5.13 R trad testpiece, with no warm-up and consequences baked into every move. It’s equal parts stoke and respect—an up-close reminder of how much composure, craft, and commitment live behind the grades, and why Squamish remains a proving ground for bold crack climbing.

Cedar Wright · 5:48

Sonnie Trotter is one of the most handsome men in Canada, and has climbed A LOT of 5.14 trad. He's put up first ascents on El Cap. He's a proud dad. And... Sidekick Alex Honnold gets starry eyed when he talks about him. Please enjoy "Captain Canada," a fun little bio I shot on Sonnie for Black Diamond... when I was up in Squamish climbing some 10 years ago! It features him soloing a 5.12 crack, "Final Cut," and a dicey 5.13 R called "Lake of Fire"... with no warm-up!