Dirtbag Climber: S34 EP1 – "Welcome to Squamish"

Podcast: Dirtbag Climber from Uncover (CBC)
Host: Stephen Chua
Release Date: September 8, 2025

Overview: A Mysterious Murder in Squamish

The season premiere of Dirtbag Climber sets the stage for a true crime odyssey into the 2017 homicide of "Jesse James"—a mysterious rock climber found dead in Squamish, B.C. The episode introduces listeners to Jesse's enigmatic life, shifting identities, and the Squamish climbing community’s struggles with his memory and unresolved death. Local reporter Stephen Chua embarks on an investigation that promises to unravel not just a crime, but the complicated portrait of a victim who lived several lives.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Legend of Jesse James: A Climbing Enigma

• Opening Scene [00:39–01:29]:
  The episode begins with a vivid description of a YouTube video featuring Jesse free-soloing a daunting route—"Taking his life in his hands because if his hands give out, he'll fall 40 ft onto hard granite."
  Jesse embodied the ‘dirtbag climber’ lifestyle: living nomadically, sleeping in vehicles, working just enough to get by.

• Ambiguous Background [01:39–02:12]:
  Despite his presence in the climbing world, Jesse’s backstory was an open secret.
  "I didn't think James was his real name, I thought Jesse was his real name. Everybody knew that the full name probably wasn't real." — Jackie (Climbing Buddy), [02:05]

2. Discovery of the Crime

• The Scene at Cat Lake [03:19–05:50]:
  Rob Carrick, site manager at Cat Lake, describes finding Jesse’s burned-out SUV:
  "He'd hide his face with his hands and it was fairly obvious that he was deliberately trying to hide from me." — Rob Carrick, [03:51]
  Routine abandonment of torched vehicles was common, but this time there was a body inside.

• Police Investigation [05:50–06:54]:
  Corporal Frank Jang of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team reveals: "The autopsy later confirmed that the victim died of a gunshot. It is obviously a homicide..." — Corporal Frank Jang, [06:47]
  The climbing community reels, and rumors fly about the killer and Jesse’s real identity.

3. Who Was Jesse James?

• Layers of Identity [07:33–08:22]:
  Jesse’s history was a puzzle, full of deliberate obfuscations and adopted personas.
  "He's a puzzle. He really is. It would take three years to figure that one out." — Stephen Chua, [07:35]

• Dirtbag Climber Culture & Community [08:52–10:45]:
  Stephen discusses his entry into the Squamish scene and the closed nature of climbing circles after a death. His own climbing experience helps him gain trust and access.

• Jesse, the Philosopher-King [12:26–13:15]:
  Friends recall Jesse’s intellectual bravado and online musings, including blogs (Whippers and Tears, Killer Strangelet) and poetry.

  "He tried to pretend he was some kind of philosopher king. Philosopher climbing king, if you want." — Jackie (Climbing Buddy), [12:26]

4. Jesse's Public and Private Lives

• Activist & Troll [14:06–15:35]:

  • Advocated for diversity in the climbing world: "He'll call out the companies, saying, 'They are hypocrisy...they don't have any diversity in their board or their sponsor athletes.'" — Zhou Wong (Climbing Friend), [14:37]
  • Wrote a self-published book, The Psychology of Seduction, listing improbable credentials: Israeli Defense Force officer, physicist, AI developer.

• Doubts & Tall Tales [16:22–16:42]:

  • Friends express skepticism about Jesse’s many claims: "If he was IDF special forces soldier, he'd be a lot bulkier..." — Jackie, [16:32]

• Partner’s Perspective [17:21–21:13]:

  • Eva McLennan (using the alias Abby Garbanzo), shares that Jesse was secretive, security-obsessed, and believed to possess vast crypto wealth:
    "Reports of his wealth are greatly underestimated. He was a crypto billionaire." — Eva McLennan, [20:55]
  • Their nomadic lifestyle and use of pseudonyms were, according to Eva, precautions stemming from his wealth.

5. Wealth, Paranoia, and Rumors

• Wads of Cash [22:14–23:54]:

  • Stories circulate of Jesse flashing piles of cash, but friends are unconvinced:
    "He sure didn't show any of it. He wasn't like giving away money to his friends... he never appeared rich or poor." — Jackie, [23:54]

• Online Infamy [24:15–27:35]:

  • Jesse’s abrasive online persona alternated between offering tips and trolling, sparking outrage and even threats.
    "He was a dick towards experienced climbers because I think he has a problem with authority." — Jackie, [25:20]
    Examples of his forum tirades and the anger they provoked are read aloud, highlighting his divisiveness.

  • Violence Speculated as Motivation [26:59–27:35]:

    • "Somebody who didn't like him, really got to him... very likely a climber, took a gun out and shot him." — Jackie, [27:57]

6. The Outlaw Motif and Real Identity

• Jesse James, the Outlaw [28:13–29:13]:

  • The episode draws parallels between the legendary American outlaw and the Squamish climber, both chased by danger and living under assumed names.

• The Unmasking: Davis Wolfgang Hawke [30:31–31:04]:

  • After years of mystery, police confirm: "The victim's actual name remained unknown until recently, when it was confirmed as Davis Wolfgang Hawk." — Corporal Frank Jang, [30:41]
  • Hawk’s path: numerous aliases (Bo Decker, Johnny Durango, Dave Bridger), but originally born Andrew Britt Greenbaum.

• The Fallout [32:16–33:14]:

  • Discovery of Hawk’s past triggers a flood of mixed reactions, from outrage to rumors about motives spanning debts, betrayals, and international intrigue.
  • "A lot of people might want this person to be hurt." — Host/Interviewer, [32:16]
  • "He was fundamentally a Nazi." — Jackie, [33:11]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “The reason a lot of people climb is so that they could forget about things. Because when you're on the side of a cliff, you know, everything goes away. You're just trying not to die.” — Jackie (Climbing Buddy), [01:29]
• “Vehicle is a generous description of what he found.” — Stephen Chua, [04:23]
• “The autopsy later confirmed that the victim died of a gunshot. It is obviously a homicide...” — Corporal Frank Jang, [06:47]
• "I didn't think James was his real name ... Everybody knew that the full name probably wasn't real." — Jackie, [02:05]
• “He’d sleep somewhere else...she believed he did that because of security. And I kept saying to her, why do you think that he didn't sleep in the same place? And she said, security. Security.” — Host/Interviewer paraphrasing Eva, [19:25]
• “If he was IDF special forces soldier, he'd be a lot bulkier than what he was.” — Jackie, [16:32]
• “He has two Personas on social media...he jokes around and troll people and cause controversies, getting some people very mad.” — Zhou Wong, [25:00]
• “Jesse James equals Internet troll. If you see trolls, they grow and become more annoying. Everyone go easy on Jesse James, fellas. Probably been up all night fighting off women.” — Read from forums, [25:59]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:39] Introduction to Jesse James and his free-soloing in Squamish
• [03:19] Discovery of the burned-out vehicle
• [05:50] Police confirm homicide; community reactions
• [07:35] Journalist's struggle to uncover Jesse’s identity
• [12:26] Jackie on Jesse’s “philosopher king” persona
• [14:37] Jesse’s advocacy for diversity in climbing
• [16:22] Implausibility of Jesse’s self-professed resume
• [17:21] Eva McLennan on Jesse’s secrecy and "security"
• [20:55] Eva’s claim of Jesse as a 'crypto billionaire'
• [23:54] Friends discuss the inconsistencies of Jesse’s supposed wealth
• [25:00–26:54] Jesse’s abrasive online presence and the resulting hostility
• [30:41] Police reveal Jesse’s true identity: Davis Wolfgang Hawk
• [32:16] Fallout and the growing suspect pool

Tone & Style

The episode alternates between the moody intimacy of a true crime probe and the rough camaraderie of the climbing world. Stephen Chua’s narration is personable and curious, blending skepticism with empathy as he teases out details from Jesse’s world.

Conclusion

This episode expertly sets up the mystery not just of a murder, but of a man with myriad personas—enigmatic, controversial, and polarizing. As Stephen Chua notes, "If at this point you're thinking this is a story about a rock climber who is murdered for his crypto fortune or because he rubbed the wrong climber the wrong way, well, you might be right, but you might also be totally wrong." [30:07]

The unmasking of Jesse as Davis Wolfgang Hawk—just one of many names—paves the way for a deeper dive into a story with roots far beyond the climbing cliffs of Squamish.

Next Episode Tease:
As more secrets unravel, the series promises to probe Hawk’s dark past and controversial legacy, hinting at even deeper and more sinister revelations.