Ethan Salvo Sends the Legendary Cobra Crack
Known for his bouldering, Salvo recently took down the Canada's most iconic crack line
On August 28, Ethan Salvo repeated Cobra Crack 5.14b in Squamish, B.C. First climbed by Sonnie Trotter in 2006, the route has gone on to become one of the most famous hard trad lines in the world. Over the past two decades, visiting and local climbers alike have tested themselves and refined beta and tactics on the legendary crack.
“Last week, I turned a page and closed my chapter with The Cobra Crack,” said Salvo on Instagram. “This summer has reshaped my climbing perspective from conquering stone to embracing the journey and connections made along the way.” To learn more about Salvo’s journey with the Cobra, check out his blogpost on his Substack here. It’s a very worthwhile read.
Salvo’s ascent is the second send of Cobra Crack in 2024. Didier Berthod completed the Cobra in May, nearly 20 years after his original battle with the route back in 2005.
Before clipping the chains on the Cobra, Salvo was known primarily as a boulderer. In Squamish, he’s put up first ascents of Sword in the Stone V14 and 1-Up V14, as well as the first post-break ascent of Zazen V14/15. He has repeated many of Squamish’s hardest problems including The Singularity V15, Seven V14/15, The Reckoning V14, Deadlift V14, Room Service Low V14, Fool Me Once V14, and I Shot the Sheriff V14, among others.
Sonnie Trotter’s FA of Cobra Crack
Didier Berthod on Cobra Crack
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