Allison Vest does Booka Booka Booka (8B)

Allison Vest, with 15 boulders 8B and beyond under her belt, has done Booka Booka Booka (8B) in Moe's Valley (UT) after working it for 7 sessions. (c) Bruce Wilson/Three Peaks Films

How come it is over one year since you sent anything hard?
I have been dealing with a pretty complicated hand injury since September 2023. It was dequervains Tenosinovitis but the current theory is that it was related to nerve issues in my neck. It took almost 10 months to figure out exactly what was going on and was getting worse while we figured it out. I finally got on the right track in July 2024. But had to climb only jugs for about a month and a half. So I’ve been working my way back up.

Can you tell us more about the ascent?
I was super excited to send Booka, it marks the start of me trying to climb on bigger spanned boulders. Excited to try more. It took a long time to learn how to go big on the crux move.

I’ve been climbing in Moe’s since I moved to the US, and with it under threat of being destroyed and developed, I’ve felt like the time is now to send the climbs I’ve always wanted to try. And Booka was #1 on the list!