After zero individuals in 15 years had been able to — or curious 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. Right 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 delicate as a seaside within the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Sound like safe climbing?
Riiiight. One factor I learn about moderately-rated climbs is that it’s a ringing endorsement of their crap high quality when no one — not one individual — manages to repeat them within the span of 4 U.S. presidential phrases.
Learn 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 always a sandy affair,” will shut him down, spit him off, or worse.
Runtime: 19.5 minutes