Melissa la Neve’s Rad Bat Hang on Golden Ticket 5.14c
Top comp climber Melissa Le Neve has sent Golden Ticket 5.14c at Red River Gorge in Kentucky as her fourth of the grade.
The steep route was once graded 5.14d, but downgraded by Adam Ondra after he onsighted it. la Neve used a cool bat hang for a no-hands-rest high on the route.
“I think I haven’t been happier yet to climb a line,” said la Neve. “Back in 2012, I was very impressed by the line and even more when I saw Ondra onsighting it (which was one of my most inspiring experience in climbing).”
la Neve has an impressive list of sends, including Wall Street 5.14b at Frankenjura, Black Sheep 5.14c at Ceuse, Southern Smoke 5.14c and Fifty Words for Pump 5.14c at Red River Gorge. She was the first woman to climb Wall Street, the world’s first 5.14b, established by the visionary Wolfgang Güllich.
la Neve has hinted that she hopes to one day climb Gullich’s Action Directe 5.14d, which has over 20 ascents but none by a woman.
After her first time trying the route a few years ago, she said, “The first day I did the jump, which is the crux for me. I felt very bad on the crossover move to a two-finger pocket.” She soon pulled a pulley on the same move.