Empath 5.15a in California Gets Three More Repeats
Connor Herson applied crack techniques and crushed it in only a few goes
Empath was first climbed by Carlo Traversi last year in California’s Tahoe and given the grade of 5.15a. It was quickly repeated by James Webb, Daniel Woods and Nathaniel Coleman.
Three more climbers have now ticked the must-climb granite route: Keenan Takahashi, Connor Herson and Ethan Pringle. Herson freed The Nose 5.14a on El Capitan at the age of 14.
Herson applied some crack climbing techniques without wearing any tape or jam gloves. He sent it on his fifth go wearing borrowed shoes, according to his father Jim Herson. Herson is only has climbed over 50 5.14s, with his first 5.14d being a first ascent this spring.
Last fall, Tom Randall and Pete Whittaker made a video suggesting the climb could be done using some jams instead of the technical beta from the FA. Watch the video below.
Empath FA
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