For my birthday each year since being an adult and on my own, my tradition is to do 3 “wishes.” These vary quite a bit from year to year: last year it was brunch, a car wash and a hike to Garibaldi lake with my sister and her boyfriend. This year my 3 wishes were to 1. My favourite birthday meal (perogis), 2. A bonfire on the beach, and 3. Eating chocolate cake mid-climb on the Chief with a bunch of friends.

I’d done the chief a few times previously: in 2014 I hiked to 1st peak, and I then climbed it in 2022 with Max, and then again hiked it with Lucia in 2023. This time I think it’s worth writing about though, since it was the most memorable time so far. 

Not many friends would fit the description for this third wish, since they need to have a partner, and need to be able to actually climb the Chief. (A bit of an exclusive birthday party – oops! Good thing I planned a bonfire as well!) Of the friends that were up for this fun outing on the Chief and were also in town, I recruited Yunfei & HT, Alex & Trevor, and Mike & Allan. Not wanting to clog up any routes with my birthday party, I told everyone to find a route up the apron, and we would meet around lunchtime on the ledge to enjoy some cake. 

Alex & Trevor got a head start early in the morning up Calculus Crack, and ended up waiting for us while we followed up a couple hours later. Yunfei & HT climbed the adjacent “Long time no see” route (which I took last time I climbed the chief with Max), and Francis and I headed up Caculus Crack. Mike and Allan took off on their own adventure up Milk Road on the very other side of the Chief, and agreed to meet us at the summit if the timing worked out. 

Calculus crack was great fun, and we were quite efficient swinging leads through all the pitches. Our only slow down was (of course) waiting in the line with other parties. We even managed to share some happy yells with Yunfei & HT when we were able to see them from our pitches!