Jan 23, 2012 - Lama Frees Compressor Route
January 23, 2012
Reports are coming in suggesting that David Lama has free climbed the Compressor Route. While details are scarce, it appears that Lama has freed the actual Compressor Route (including the headwall) rather than the recent Hayden Kennedy and Jason Kruk aid variation. This free ascent is somewhat of a vindication for Lama who was criticized concerning his heavy-handed bolting tactics during a previous attempt.
More details here.
I’m confused, didn’t Jason and Hayden do their route and chop the Compressor sometime around January 17th (going by when the first whispers of it started)? How did Lama free climb the thing 5 days after it was chopped? Did he place new bolts? Or did he find enough gear on the original line? If the latter, that’s a HUGE coup on Jason and Hayden’s variation - the true fair-means ascent of the original line and free. If he resorted to replacing bolts, I guess the controversy is just starting!