Beloved rock returned after being “kidnapped” from popular Canadian climbing area

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A small granite rock known as “Portable” is back with climbers in Squamish, British Columbia, after disappearing for several months. Locals had playfully called it a ‘rock kidnapping.’

A 32-kilogram (70-pound) rock had been a well-known landmark in a popular climbing area of Squamish, used by climbers to improve their balance and strength. When it vanished last autumn, climbers were puzzled by its sudden disappearance.

So, this boulder we call ‘Portable’ got its name because, well, it was portable – small enough to actually move! But even though it wasn’t huge, it had a really unique shape, so everyone who climbed in the area instantly knew which one we were talking about. Over the years, it just became this iconic part of the local climbing scene – a total legend.

“Portable” rock returned after months away

Ethan Salvo, a 23-year-old climber from Squamish, explained to CBC’s As It Happens that ‘Portable’ has been a local fixture for much longer than he’s been alive. Salvo admits climbers can be a bit unusual and often have a deep appreciation for nature, sometimes to an extreme. However, he believes Portable became popular simply as a lighthearted and amusing challenge.

Salvo described the initial reaction to the rock’s disappearance as complete disbelief. He explained that people found it strange and upsetting that something so meaningful to the whole community could simply vanish.

Ethan Salvo holding “Portable” after identifying him in a photo

The case took a surprising turn a few months later when Salvo was rock climbing in Bishop. Someone brought a photo to his attention that was spreading online – it seemed to show Portable near a campsite, wearing a Canadian toque, goggles, and another hat.

Initially, Salvo suspected the image was a hoax. He asked a friend close by to check it out, and sure enough, there was Portable, casually enjoying the view while wearing his Canadian toque.

Once his friend retrieved the stone, Salvo went to meet her that night. He explained, “As soon as I saw its form, I knew it was the one. It just felt like home – it looked like home and felt substantial, like a comforting weight.”

Salvo thinks a climber who visited last summer probably took the rock, maybe without knowing how much it meant to the people in Squamish. He’s planning to put it back where it belongs, at the base of the Superfly boulder, so climbers can enjoy it again as part of their climbs.

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2026-01-28 20:19