Celine Mehouas, who last autumn did her first 8c, has redpointed Mind Control (8c) in Oliana. (c) Pinopictures

Can you tell us more about the ascent?
The Oliana cliff is a personal favorite of mine because I love the long and physical style of the routes there. Having done Fish Eye last year, this time I really want to try Mind Control! This beautiful route is a classic of the cliff, and after visiting it, you quickly understand why there’s always a queue at the base.

It takes me two days to get into the rhythm, then I start falling at the top crux because I’m trying a different method than other climbers. Well, after two falls at this move, I decide to do it like everyone else, and I must admit—it’s easier. On the last day before the rain, the conditions are wet and cold. It’s not really what I prefer, but the motivation is stronger.

Second attempt of the day, after falling at the same spot again. I tell myself this is the last try—I need to shorten the suffering of Caroline Minvielle, who is kindly belaying me despite the cold.

After a little scare near the bottom, where it was borderline, I reach the final crux. I’m feeling good, and it seems possible. I don’t really know how, because this move has always felt so random. I wait, refocus, and grip the holds tighter all the way to the top. The energy from the attempt makes me feel super solid, and I clip the anchor just as the first drops of rain hit my face. Perfect timing! The next day, the rain made the end of the route impossible. 😉

Ben Blackmore, with ten 8B+’ under his belt, has repeated Daniel Woods’ classical 65 degrees roof Paint it Black (8C) in RMNP (CO). ” Oh my god still can’t believe this 🤯🤯! What a surreal moment topping this thing out into the snow after god knows how many days of effort. A lot has changed since I started trying this and the last few months of school related chaos have certainly been the least I’ve gone rock climbing, so this one is extra special ❤️‍🔥. Can’t wait to see what’s next- onwards!! 🚀”

Can you tell us more about the ascent?
Paint it Black is an absolute dream problem for me and it feels so surreal to have it done after so many days of effort! I'm in school for my doctorate in Physical Therapy right now, so it's been especially hard to get out to try the last couple months and really had to make the sessions count when I could. Ultimately it came down to eating fewer nerds gummy clusters I think and playing more pickle ball during the week when I couldn't climb for the coordination!

Either way, I've probably watched the video of Daniel getting the FA 50 times since I was a kid, and spent so many hours trying over the past few seasons so this one really means a lot. Can't wait to see what's next!

How many sessions did it take and what made the trick in the end?
Ultimately too many sessions to count almost! Probably 7-8 in 2023, 10-15 in 2024 and then 1 in 2025. In the end I just needed to try really hard and maybe listen to bit of chief keef on the hike in!

Chaz Ott has gotten an answer from Adam Ondra directly in the forum. (c) Petr Chodura

”If Ondra does read this, I'd love to ask him directly why he considers this boulder he sent in 5 days to be harder than the crux 1 on Silence. Crux 1 took around 3 years with dedicated training as I recall, begging the question. Thanks!”

Ondra: Good question! Crux 1 itself (from the very last not so good kneebar, around 14 moves) is definitely much easier than SS, even though it took so much time for me to do it. But there was so much time in beta finding and finetuning my flow and microadjustements. Just before sending, I could link the crux 1 pretty solid with very good margin. For me, adding around 6 moves extra (around 7B?) before (where the last very good kneebar is) added a lot more. That link (around 20moves) could be 8C+ for sure, but probably still a bit easier than SS? The reason why Silence takes so much time to send because it is possibly the most technical and weird climbing I have ever done. It is much more tiring and less efficient to try since you have to try it from the rope and not above the pads. And skin on your left pinkie is extremely limiting factor (basically making more than 2 tries a day without tape to link the crux is very untactical - since cutting the side of your pinkie is almost sure) - combined with extreme low-percentage character of the moves - it makes it hard to link the crux on low number of days. On the other hand, I was extremely tactical on Soudain Seul, very lucky with the weather, I had all the betas available, various climbers to share the sessions with. Number of sessions to send the boulder/route is not always the most indicating one.

Stefan Hochbaum has done the FA of Obsidian (8C+) in Scharfenstein. (c) Jörn Störtebekker

Can you tell us more about the ascent and the process behind?
Kai Theune (afriend of mine and the guy who developed nearly the whole area) showed me this 12 years old project 3 years ago. After I finished all the problems at this area I started working on this thing. It is a hard 8A+ into Diffuse Reflection (8B+) with no rest.

It’s a 12 moves boulder. After you climb the six 8A+ moves you are pretty tired and still have to climb the hard part (8b+) which made the boulder super hard to send for me. I tried this boulder over 3 years and nearly 55 sessions. It’s pretty hard to get decent conditions. Most of the time the ground is wet and it condensates to the rock. So you have most of the time high moisture in the air. There is never sun so once the ground is wet you need a longer dry period to climb on that thing.

The boulder has lots of small crimps so you need good conditions. Its a fingery, endurance and powerful boulder with 2 hard crux moves which are at the end of the boulder. I set a replica in my homegym and trained some days on it.

But the holds were much better than on the rock so I switched to board climbing and finger training on hangbards.

Karoline Sinnhuber has during the last month sent Prospettiva Nevski (8c), Dedi fredi (8b+) and Terra Piatta (8b+) in Arco. The Austrian is a former competition boulderer who has done nine 8B’s. After dealing with golfer's elbow twice last year, she shifted her focus to routes, successfully sending her first four 8c climbs. (c) Mathias Gschwendtner

Can you tell us more about these ascents?
I spent pretty much all weekends last month in Arco and enjoyed the italian life in best conditions 😍 My ‚sendtrain‘ at Pizarra started when sending my - let‘s call it long-term-project - ‚Terra Piatta‘. Actually I didn‘t plan to climb on this weekend because I felt sick. When I realized, that it‘s quite fresh in the shade, I had no other choice than to climb and give it some tries.

The next weekend I checked out ‚Dedi Fredi‘, which has quite a different style compared to ‚Terra Piatta‘. Bigger holds, bigger moves and much sharper rock. Somehow I managed to find a tiny-move-beta for the upper crux which worked out quite well for me :)

As a logical consequence the next route had to be ‚Prospettiva Nevski‘, which shares the first crux with ‚Dedi Fredi‘ but then traverses to the left. The traverse and the whole end turned out to be super tense and with no real resting positions (for me).

The first day it felt quite impossible to climb it with my non existing endurance, but on the 2nd day I got faster in the movements, found some micro shakes and some new micro betas. YAY 🙌🏻

Mariana Queiroz Prado, who sent her first two 8A’s last year, has completed Kalunga (8A+) in Cocalzinho.

Can you tell us more about the ascent and your climbing background?
Climbing Kalunga was a dream I’ve held onto for years. This boulder demands a lot finger strength, body tension, precise footwork, and technique all while navigating small, challenging holds on an overhanging wall. I’ve been climbing for 8 years, with the last 7 dedicated almost entirely to outdoor bouldering. I typically climb at least 4 days a week on real rock, and on the other days, I either rest or focus on training finger strength. Kalunga became a long term project for me, something I envisioned since I was climbing V7. It wasn’t until last year that I felt truly ready to tackle it. Countless attempts later, I finally succeeded, and the feeling of topping out was pure happiness. It’s a milestone that only three Brazilian women have achieved, and I’m incredibly proud to be one of them.

Sebastien Bouin reports on Instagram that he has done the FA of El Gran Cabrón (9b), bolted by David Gambus, in the Shegeng Cave.

“It’s an incredible experience to find such a project and challenge myself in a setting like this. China leaves no one indifferent—I feel like this trip is opening my mind in so many ways. The distance, the unfamiliar culture, and this new way of life disorient me as much as they fascinate me.”

In total, the 31-year-old had previously done twelve 9b’s, out of which seven are FA’s. Additionally, Seb has a further seven 9b+ ascents to his name, as well as the FA of the world's second 9c route, DNA. In other words, the French has an almost equally impressive red point ticklist as Adam Ondra.

Sebastien Berthe has repeated the 32 pitches The Dawnwall (9a) on El Cap in Yosemite. Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson put it up in 2015 after projecting it for six years. Then the next year Adam Ondra did the first and only repeat.

"On January 31st, 2025, at 8 AM, after 14 days on the wall, I topped out El Capitan, completing a project that took me quite some time and investment: tears and blood, 2 trips to Yosemite, 3 Atlantic crossings by sailboat, countless sessions on the wall, and thousands of meters of rope jugging…" (c) Soline Kentzel

“Day 6: Pitch 14 (5.14d - 9a)
The conditions are warm for January, and I know temperature is a key factor for success on this triple-crux pitch. So, I decide to start climbing at 5 a.m., before sunrise and before the sun hits the wall. At 5:30, I take a first working burn to dial in the moves and refresh the chalk marks (without them, the holds might as well not exist…). I feel great. First redpoint attempt: I fly through the pitch, everything feels easy, and within minutes, I’m at the final crux—it’s happening! I go for the big move left, but just as I reach for the last holds… I slip. A scream of frustration tears through me. I take 20 minutes to refocus and try again before the sun arrives.

Second attempt—same thing: I feel amazing, I get to the final crux, then slip again. The sun is here, and it’s over for today… I feel so close, yet I have the sinking feeling that I might keep slipping over and over. Back at the portaledge, another issue arises—my back is in excruciating pain.

Days 7 and 8: Rest. I had planned to climb the next day, but as soon as I wake up, I know it’s not happening. My back hurts too much. I start doubting whether I can finish this push. Slowly, with gentle stretching, the pain eases—though not completely.

Day 9: Pitch 14
When I wake up, my back feels better—not healed, but manageable with ibuprofen. It’s a cold, cloudy day—perfect conditions. I warm up by reworking the final crux to figure out why I kept slipping. I think I’ve found a solution—it’s all about foot positioning.

First try: I slip at crux 2. Attempts 2, 3, and 4: I slip at crux 1. My back hurts. My toes are freezing in my tight shoes, and I struggle to keep them warm. Thankfully, Soline, the ultimate belayer, warms them up against her body between tries. Attempt 5: I pass crux 1 but fall at crux 2. Attempts 6, 7, 8, and 9: I slip again at crux 1. I start to despair.

It’s 4:30 p.m., and a snowstorm is coming at 5. One last try. I convince myself I can do it. Attempt 10. It’s not my smoothest go, but I stick crux 1, then crux 2. As I reach the final rest before crux 3… it starts snowing.My shoes and fingers are getting wet. It feels hopeless. But I have nothing to lose. I go for it. Somehow, I stick the big move. My foot stays in place. I reach for the final jug—I’m still on the wall… YES! I sent pitch 14, in the snow! Pure euphoria. Back at the portaledge, the snowstorm rages, but I’m ecstatic.

Day 10: Pitch 15
Despite yesterday’s long day, I’m getting ready to climb—I’m obviously super motivated. Because of the excitement, I didn’t sleep at all last night. My back still hurts, but yesterday’s session didn’t make it worse. The day is cloudy, conditions are perfect. Pitch 15 is the second major challenge of the Dawn Wall after Pitch 14. This is where Kevin Jorgeson got stuck during the first ascent in 2015. The pitch is rated 5.14c/d - 8c+/9a. I would personally say more like 8c+ , but a very technical and finger-intensive one. A long approach around 5.13d - 8b, followed by a precise boulder move requiring extreme foot and finger control. First, I do a beta-checking go to mark holds with chalk. Then it’s go time. I feel very strong on my first attempt and quickly reach the final crux. I feel like I can do it, and then— “Shit!” — I slip, out of nowhere. Back to the previous belay, 20 minutes of rest. Second attempt: I make a mistake and slip at the start. Damn. In my head, I start doubting, thinking I’ll keep slipping again and again like on Pitch 14. But I manage to pull myself together and focus on what I have to do, not on the result. On my next attempt—I send it! I squeeze my fingers harder than necessary in the crux, stay focused on the final moves, and it works! Yes!!! It’s starting to feel real now—I’m stoked! There’s still daylight left, and I think I have some energy left, so I go straight for Pitch 16, the Loop Pitch (an alternative to the famous dyno, rated 5.14a - 8b+). Probably the most unique pitch on the Dawn Wall: it involves downclimbing for about 20 meters to a small ledge, an easy traverse left, and then a demanding endurance climb back up (slippery and technical layback) I haven’t rehearsed these pitches as much as the previous ones. From the start, I knew I wasn’t fully prepared for them. I spend 45 minutes refining the beta. Then I give it a go but I fall on the downclimbing boulder problem, which I’m struggling to master. It feels super weird to have to fight so hard while climbing down. Lack of strategy: I keep trying over and over without success, until two of my fingers start bleeding. My skin is completely wrecked.

Day and Night 14: Pitch 21 → 32
For the past few nights, I haven’t been sleeping well due to stress and excitement, and this night is no exception. Today is the big day—it's January 30th: I'm going for the final push to the summit. The next morning, rain is expected to arrive. I take down the camp and prepare a bag with a portaledge and a fly, just in case we get stuck by the rain for a few days. In the early afternoon, I do a warm-up on Pitch 21. As soon as the shade arrives, I go for an attempt. I'm incredibly stressed, but I’m determined. I climb well and precisely, taking my time. In the crux up high, I grip the crimps harder than necessary—I can feel my fingertips tearing under my fingers. I throw myself toward the final finger lock and mantle onto the ledge with a scream of joy! That’s it, I’ve completed all the hard pitches of the Dawn Wall. I feel incredibly happy and proud. Unfortunately, there’s no time to celebrate: it's 5 PM, and I still have 11 adventurous and not-so-easy pitches to climb before morning. Pitch 22 is a long, steep finger crack that I have to do twice due to a fall near the top. That pitch completely drains me. I move slowly through the next pitches, trying to recover. Navigating the route in the dark night isn't easy (we had only climbed these pitches once before, two years ago, with Siebe Vanhee), and some sections are quite committing and intimidating. There are unprotected sections, offwidths, long traverses on hollow-sounding flakes, breaking holds, unstable pitons, and the haulbag getting stuck… We're getting our fair share of adventure. I start feeling terrible: I struggle to eat, I feel like vomiting, and my body is deeply tired. With each pitch, I have to fight and leave a little piece of myself behind. Soline is incredibly supportive and solid. She follows brilliantly through these terrifying traverses. At every belay, she encourages me and pushes me to keep going. She’s an exceptional support. At 2 AM, we reach Ship Bow, Pitch 29. Four pitches remain, but I’m utterly exhausted. We decide to take a 1.5-hour break so I can recover a little. We try to eat and sleep, but I can’t do either. At 4 AM, we set off again. I fall near the end of the 5.11d - 7a offwidth in the next pitch due to my poor offwidth technique. I retry and easily climb it in layback style. Three pitches to go. In each one, I have to fight, and at every belay, I feel like I might faint or throw up. Dawn breaks during the second-to-last pitch; it's cloudy, but it hasn’t started raining yet. Chris Nathalie is waiting at the summit to document the final meters. Pitch 31, a 5.13a-7c+ followed by a 5.12a-7a dihedral full of grass, gives me another challenge. I climb the final pitch (Pitch 32, 5.12b - 7b) quickly, in a daze. I mantle onto the summit at 8 AM. Victory! We’ve just lived through an intense and unforgettable night. It’s a strange feeling… Due to exhaustion, I don’t fully grasp that it’s over, that the Dawn Wall is behind me. It will take me a few hours, or maybe more, to truly understand and appreciate it."

Guillaume Mignard has completed The Big Island (8C) in Fontainebleau after projecting it for 15 sessions.

Can you tell us more about the ascent?
The first session I understood most of the moves, that I worked on the next sessions. Each separate move felt pretty easy but putting them together was difficult It took me a lot of work to make it work from the start.

What is your climbing background?
I started climbing about 10 year ago and discovered outdoors 3 or 4 years ago. Been climbing almost only outdoor since then and training/spraywall when its raining 🤷 I'm a routesetter and have always lived and climbed aroud Fontainebleau.

Alberto Gines López, the Olympic gold medal winner in Tokyo, has made the third ascent of Ramon Julian Puigblanque’s El disbarat (8c+) in Montserrat. It was out put up in 2000 and Adam Ondra did the first and last repeat in 2008.

“For many years I've been climbing in El totxo, David was always telling me stories about this route. Few weeks ago my brother Lluc asked me to try together the route to figure out the moves, two sessions after it came down. It's maybe time to check the king line from Montserrat.”