After zero individuals in 15 years have been able to — or fascinated about — repeating this man’s scary 5.12 chossfest, he got here again to take a stab on the second ascent.
“Stab” is an intentional phrase alternative.
Australian climber Zac Vertrees first put up Gigantor (Australian grade 26 or about 5.12b) in 2005. Straight away on this video, you get a really feel for the route: It’s an incipient seam with rounded edges main up vertical sandstone that appears about as tender as a seaside within the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Sound like safe climbing?
Riiiight. One factor I find out about moderately-rated climbs is that it’s a ringing endorsement of their crap high quality when no one — not one particular person — manages to repeat them within the span of 4 U.S. presidential phrases.
Be taught whether or not Vertrees can re-open Gigantor right here or if the cliff, the place “gear can pop, holds break, rusty bolts snap by hand, and the climbing is at all times a sandy affair,” will shut him down, spit him off, or worse.
Runtime: 19.5 minutes