Canadian National Ice Climbing Team member Nathan Kutcher has just bagged the second ascent of El Matador at The Bull River in Alberta. The incredibly steep mixed route was first climbed by fellow National Ice Climbing Team member Gord McArthur in 2011 and graded M12. Kutcher managed the redpoint on his second go and said the route had “tons of ice on it.” During his first attempt Kutcher “had to skip two or three bolts because they were buried behind a huge dagger.”

“The second time on it, I took an ice screw with me to protect the runout. It’s a super-rad route,” said Kutcher.

As for the grade, Kutcher feels that the extra ice made the route “easier than when Gord first did it.”

Here is a video of Gord McArthur on El Matador M12.

http://www.vimeo.com/18940125