Anna Wild does True North (8c)

Anna Wild, who did her second 8b+ last month, has sent True North (8c) at Kilnsey. (c) Marsha Balaeva

Can you tell us more about doing your first 8c?
I had a session on True North after doing Full Tilt (8b) and Full On Action (8b+) last year (which share the first section of climbing) and was really psyched by it as it’s steep and powerful but also sustained, so a style that I really enjoy. But I got injured and then didn’t try it again until May. The past month I’ve been trying it a couple of times a week. I got pretty close quite quickly as the redpoint crux is right at the top, and I had a few sessions falling on the last hard move which was pretty frustrating. On Tuesday I thought it would be too hot but I think this took the pressure off and I stuck the final hard move!

It was an ideal project for me because it took me long enough that I started to worry it was too hard and I’d keep falling in the same place - with other routes I’ve always done them when I feel close, so it was a new challenge mentally to keep falling on that same move. But it made me realise that I am good enough to climb that grade which was quite rewarding as 8c had always seemed too ambitious to me!

What is your climbing background?
I’ve been climbing for 10 years. When I was younger I only climbed inside due to not living near any outdoor crags and I used to do a lot of youth comps. A few years ago I moved to Manchester for uni and have since only really climbed outside which I definitely prefer. I have especially enjoyed the Yorkshire limestone.