When the journey to the BASE jump is just as gnarly.
Photography :: Jimmy Martinello // Athlete :: Brooke Dawson
location :: Squamish, January 2025
First jumped by Spencer Seabrooke in honour of a fellow BASE jumper who’d passed away, the name of this exit remains a secret to the uninitiated. In January 2025, photographer Jimmy Martinello made the trek across the mighty Squamish River to capture this shot of local Brooke Dawson, who did more than 200 BASE jumps in her first year of the sport, which is “way more than I expected,” Brooke says, “but I am totally hooked.”
“This jump is one of the most memorable,” she adds. “Not just for the view, but because it’s a mission to get there—a paddle across the river followed by a gnarly bushwhack to the base. After that, it’s a loose-rock climb to the top of the spire—definitely not a casual hike.”
“What makes this jump so unique is the intense focus required,” says Brooke, who originally hails from Calgary and had a lot of skydiving experience before she started BASE. “You’re perched on a tiny rock platform with just enough space for you and your closest friends. The gear-up process here feels different and there’s a certain energy that builds as you prepare for the jump. That’s when the adrenaline really kicks in. The tiptoe out to the edge, knowing you’re about to take that leap off one of the most beautiful and exposed spots in Squamish, gets the heart racing every time.” –MJ Castor
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