• Skip to main navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Quick Property Search

Trending Squamish Searches

  • Squamish BC Homes for Sale
  • Brackendale BC Homes for Sale
  • Garibaldi Highlands BC Homes for Sale
  • Britannia Beach BC Homes for Sale
  • Valleycliffe BC Homes for Sale

Talk To Scott Now

Have a question? Give me a call at 604-815-1985and I will contact you right away.

Squamish Homes and Condos for SaleSquamish Homes and Condos for Sale

  • SEARCH
    • Advanced Search
    • Set Up Email Alerts
    • Interactive Map Search
    • Listing ID Search
    • Address Search
    • My Account
  • FEATURED
    • Our Featured Properties
    • Today’s Newest Single Family Houses for sale
    • Today’s Newest Condos & Townhouses for sale
    • Today’s Newest Land for sale
  • NEIGHBOURHOODS
    • Britannia Beach
    • Garibaldi Highlands
    • Brackendale
    • Valleycliffe
    • Rural Squamish
    • Northyards
    • Tantalus
    • Garibaldi Estates
    • Brennan Centre
    • Dentville
    • Downtown Squamish
    • Hospital Hill
    • Crumpit Woods & Plateau
    • University Heights
    • Explore More
  • NEW DEVELOPMENTS
    • Redbridge
    • SEAandSKY at Waterfront Landing
    • Jumar
    • The Plaza at Junction Park
    • Cleveland Gardens
    • Pemberton and 3rd Avenue
    • Britannia Beach
  • BUY
    • Why Buy with Us?
    • Mortgage Calculator
  • SELL
    • Home Valuation
    • Selling 101
    • Marketing Your Home
  • ARTICLES
    • Culture
      • Arts
      • Music
      • Food & Drink
        • Recipes
        • Restaurants
    • Real Estate
    • Profiles
      • Business
      • People
    • At Home
      • Garden
    • Throwback
    • Habitat
    • Field Trips
    • Around the Internet
  • CONTACT
    • About Squamish.com Real Estate Group
    • Client Reviews
    • Contact Us
SearchClose

Hevy Duty: Climber, Community Builder, Style Renegade

You’ve seen him around town; rainbow-coloured side pony tail, avant-garde fashion sense, and definitely a one of a kind guy.

hevy bigger

Hevy Duty is a recognizable local fixture, and significant contributor to the climbing, slackline, and downtown community in Squamish. Hevy likes to talk, which he does with a stark English accent that he hasn’t lost, despite living in North America since 1989. He’ll talk about the changing times, climbing, music he’s into lately, his new app, Cragger, or he’ll just chip in his two cents about any topic you bring up. And it’s a guarantee that your conversation will be entertaining, if not enlightening.

What’s the Deal?

His given name is Alan Stevenson–which is speckled throughout climbing guide books around the world, as he’s been putting up climbing routes for most of his life. Squamish is no exception. His dedicated work in the Smoke Bluffs has made many lower grade climbs accessible for the average climber. During the rainy winter days, Hevy can be found establishing new climbing routes: dangling on a rope alone in the Smoke Bluffs, scrubbing moss from the granite.

His nickname, Hevy Duty, seems very fitting considering his outlook on life. Part of the ethos Hevy embodies is to eke out your own path and in climbing that means establishing your own routes. “Anyone can climb old routes! Go to Baffin Island, go to backside, put up your own routes,” he states, noting the vast climbing potential in North America relative to England. In everyday life, this electing your own path mentality translates into his motto, “Climb, eat, dance, repeat.” Having just celebrated his 65th birthday, he still spends a fair bit of time doing these things.

Diggers Hevy Duty
Image: Gripped.com/articles/the-diggers

Early Days

Hevy spent the first part of his life on this continent in the Western United States. He worked in construction to fuel his passion to live and climb in the iconic American climbing destinations like Yosemite, Indian Creek and Boulder. He garnered a reputation in the climbing world as a gritty, rough and tumble Brit with a heart of gold. An online climbing forum with a thread titled, “Alan ‘Hevy Duty’ Stevenson Appreciation Thread,” gives credence to his legendary status. Some climbers to whom Hevy showed the ropes, or who shared a comical experience with him in days gone by, have recalled a few moments. Hevy ended up in Squamish in 2001, and has been here ever since, contributing what he can to Squamish community and culture.

228637_100322080059420_6403042_n
Hevy Fest Image : Facebook

Hevy Fest

Ever the catalyzer of community, Hevy has the magical quality of observing when change is afoot and motivating people around it. “One year, someone was on about slacklining, so I figured why not have a little festival. No one knew what was.” Hevy helped build the slackline community in Squamish by starting Hevy Fest in 2007. He has since become side-tracked on other projects and so Hevy Fest didn’t run last summer, nor this one. But, there is a plan in place: he has spoken to world record slackliner Spencer Seabrooke about rekindling the event.

Cragger

“I’ve been watching. Paper guide books are great–I know they are. I’ve got lots of them. The reality is, their time has come, their time gone. It’s just the way it is. Newspapers are on the way out. The [smart] phone is ubiquitous. Everyone’s got one.”

For his newest project, a mobile app called Cragger, Hevy teamed up with technically minded locals Darrell Houle and Will Nolan to build this comprehensive guide to cragging in Squamsh. They have set it up so that climbers in other regions, who are keen on publishing can use the template to upload their digital guidebooks. It looks like the next region to have a such a listing will be Skaha Bluffs in Penticton.

Cragger
Cragger

The Kids are Alright

For an older bloke, Hevy is notably up to date with contemporary technology. “It’s just like magic and it’s really interesting. Kids spend their whole lives on the screens, so they learn from the screen.” He points to the way youth make change in a society, and how the old paradigm of youth as detractors and degenerates is flawed.

“Young people are crazy!?!?  Young people will keep society vibrant,” exclaims Hevy.

“In this world, people don’t realize you have to embrace young people because we’ve changed from an industrial to a technological society, and every kid that grows up is dominated by touch screen. You want to work at Walmart now, you have to be able to use a touch screen on the cash register. It’s hard for old people. You have to change.”

1-IMG_6318-001
Photo: Drew Copeland

On Squamish

With the exception of the rising costs of housing, Hevy is quite pleased about the wave of changes sweeping over Squamish. “When I arrived here, stood on top of the Chief and looked down the valley, halfway down was the orange fog and you could smell it. We had 24 hours a day logging. Now, everyone wants to come here and it’s no longer a s*#! hole.” He embraces the reality of changes in Squamish. “The market will change; it comes in cycles and the last it happened was with the Olympics. Other than the housing, I think the changes are great. You can have a business and you might succeed–if you are a young entrepreneur and you do a business that’s relevant.” With an entrepreneurial bent himself, Hevy sees the potential Squamish holds for enterprising minds.

His rapid cadence, rainbow hair, and rock-scrubbing ways may seem out of place, but Hevy knows what’s up. He is the kind of person who ekes out his own path; he always has.

 

Save

Posted in: LIFESTYLE, PEOPLE, PROFILES Tagged: Climbing, Cragger, Hevy Duty, Hevyfest, Slacklining, Smoke Bluffs

Search Smarter!

Did you know the hottest homes for sale in Squamish often sell within days of being listed? Don't miss out! Set up your own custom property alert so you can be notified of the newest homes as they hit the market! Simply click the button below and choose the qualities that you want most in a home and save your search to start getting alerts today!

Set up Property Alerts

As local Squamish Real Estate Agents we also have access to homes before they hit the market and can show you more homes and information that are only accessible in the MLS. If you would like to set up a time to go over your real estate needs, please free to contact us at your convenience. There is no obligation and or pressure... we hope to hear from you!

Post navigation

« ARTISTS TO WATCH | Lan Yao
Squamish Landing: 1905 »



Start Your Home Search

Talk To Scott Now

Have a question? Give me a call at 604-815-1985and I will contact you right away.

Quick Search Tools

  • Advanced Search
  • Address Search
  • Home Valuation
  • Interactive Map Search
  • Listing ID #

What is Your Home Worth

Click below to find out what your home is worth, 100% free

Find Out Now!

Client Reviews

I highly recommend working with Alex both as a colleague and as a client

I have had the pleasure of working with Alex over the last couple of years in several different transactions, including one as a colisting partner, which gave me the privilege of seeing both how he works behind the scenes and on the front lines. Alex is an extremely hard worker, he gives every task his

Sophie Squamish June 17, 2018

I would never make a future real estate decision without Scott’s involvement.

Scott gives invaluable real estate advice. Both of his recommendations were spot on. We purchased in the ideal location and at the ideal time. I completely trust his instincts — I would never make a future real estate decision without his involvement.

Laura L Squamish homes August 10, 2018

I trust Scott’s experience!

I trust Scott's experience with Squamish real estate to help me make good investment decisions!

Timothy L. Squamish homes August 10, 2018

I completely endorse Scott

I met Scott by chance and he surpassed my expectations of what a realtor is all about and could do for me. Scott took the time to listen and truly understand what I was looking for. He has extensive knowledge of the Squamish area.

Christine M Squamish homes August 10, 2018

Kind, Caring and Knowledgeable

What a complete pleasure it is to work with Scott ! After being here for 6 months it is better than we could have imagined. I couldn’t recommend Scott more, both personally and professionally and some one we will be delighted to work with in the near future.

Jessica W. Squamish homes August 10, 2018

Alex knows Squamish!

As an Ontario resident moving to Squamish, British Columbia, I was very happy with the service provided by Alex Vark. He, personally, took the time to drive us around the area to familiarize us with the town and various neighbourhoods. His knowledge and patience were most helpful. I recommend Alex as your Squamish Realtor!!

Corinne B Squamish homes January 10, 2019

Positive: Professionalism, Responsiveness

We worked with Alex to purchase a home in Squamish last fall. Alex was amazing. We felt like we were his only clients, and we felt like the purchase of the right home was as important to him as it was for us. Whenever we had a question, Alex was always quick to respond! He

Matt Sprunt Squamish Duplex August 1, 2019

“could not have been a more positive experience for us”

Working with Alex could not have been a more positive experience for us. Alex knew exactly what we were looking for and didn’t waste any time finding us the perfect home. Alex is professional, transparent, and clearly very experienced in the world of real estate. We felt like we were working with a friend rather

Lauren McGill & Max Barron Squamish November 17, 2019

We were very proud to have Alex represent us

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️We were incredibly pleased with Alex's efforts in helping us find a home suitable to our needs. Our experience with Alex was far more desirable than with our previous realtor, who was foreign to Squamish. He provided us with many options, and was very detailed in his analyses of homes that we showed interest in.

Jess and Matt Squamish Townhome April 24, 2020

Dan Patching – Mortgage Broker

I just finished working alongside Alex as he helped my clients sell their condo in Squamish and buy a beautiful townhouse. Not only did he get them an amazing price for both, he also was extremely professional and quick to respond when questions were asked. It was a pleasure working alongside him, and anyone considering

Dan Squamish September 17, 2020

Contact Us Now

MacDonald Realty - Squamish

Scott McQuade

Personal Real Estate Corporation

Scott’s Phone: 604-815-1985
Scott’s Email: scott@squamish.com
Alex’s Phone: 604-848-4997
Alex’s Email: alex@squamish.com

38090 Cleveland Ave
Squamish, BC V8B0A8

Quick Search Tools

  • Advanced Search
  • Address Search
  • Home Valuation
  • Interactive Map Search
  • Listing ID #

Areas We Cover

Squamish, Brackendale, Garibaldi Highlands, Britannia Beach, Valleycliffe

Connect With Us

Scott McQuade Personal Real Estate Corporation © 2021 · Scott McQuade · 604-815-1985 · Privacy Policy · Sitemap · IDX Sitemap · IDX XML Sitemap · Squamish BC Homes for Sale · Agent Center · Disclaimer - All Rights Reserved by Squamish.com Real Estate Group


 

Log in · Real Estate Websites by YourSiteNeedsMe