Adam Shahar ticks Return of the Sleepwalker (9A)

Adam Shahar has repeated Daniel Woods’ Return of the Sleepwalker (9A) in Black Velvet Canyon. The 20-year-old, who has been #7 in a World Cup, has progressed one grade per year since he sent his first 8A+ at age 15. (c) Yulen Calleja Ordiz

Can you tell us more about the ascent?
ROTSW consists of some of the most amazing holds and move’s in RR. My psych on the line was first sparked watching Daniel battling it out for the FA. 3 years later I found myself on top of sleepwalker with a strong goal ahead. That was to do return. Return had been lingering in my mind the past year and this fall I came out to to Redrocks to give it some effort. I wasn’t very far off! With a bit more fitness I knew it would come soon. After a good break back home in NJ trying some other projects and clearing my head, I came back to redrocks last week to try and finish it off. After a new high point my first session back, I knew that it was a matter of time. My session on Tuesday was slow, very slow… after repeating the necessary links there was a voice in the back of my head saying this is the day. That’s usually a voice you want to get out of your head, but I was able to flip it to positively benefit me and flow up the wall.

I climbed every move with better efficiency than ever before and then found myself on top of my hardest boulder to date! Thanks to the wonderful people there to support me through it! Second boulder to bring tears to my eyes, and that is SPECIAL. Had a lot of grade talk before sending, but after it seemed most important to disconnect myself from that entirely and soak in the special moment. It is an important discussion for sure. But for now I’ll soak in my extra V points and leave it up future ascents to reach a consensus on where v17 [9A] really lies.