Future U.S.A. Olympian Jesse Grupper Flashes Red River Gorge 5.14c
Steep and crimpy, Pure Imagination 5.14c is a sandstone ultra-classic
Soon-to-be Olympian Jesse Grupper recently flashed the famous Pure Imagination 5.14c at Kentucky’s Red River Gorge. Located at the Chocolate Factory crag, Pure Imagination was established by Jonathan Siegrist back in 2010. Many of climbing’s best have since sent the route including Adam Ondra, Sasha Digiulian, Daniel Woods, Margo Hayes, Stefano Ghisolfi, Sean Bailey, Michaela Kiersch, Alex Megos, Colin Duffy, and Babsi Zangerl, among others.
The 80-foot route works its way up a series of crimps and pockets up a striking, overhanging wall of streaked sandstone. After a pumpy start, a tough boulder problem is encountered, which is then followed up by relentless crimpy climbing and another boulder problem before the chains.
Grupper is not the first to flash Pure Imagination. In 2012, Alex Megos and Daniel Woods flashed the route, and Adam Ondra onsighted it. Megos gave beta to Grupper for his send, shouting advice from the ground as Grupper fought to reach the chains.
Grupper is best known for his comp climbing accomplishments, particularly on the lead wall. In 2022, he had a breakout season on the Lead World Cup circuit, winning two golds, one silver, and one bronze. This year he won silver at the Koper World Cup and gold at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, earning his ticket to compete in the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics.
“I’ve wanted this one for a while,” said Grupper about Pure Imagination on Instagram. “I first peeked at it while trying Golden Ticket four years ago and since then I’ve brewed the idea of giving it a good first go. Walking up to it I wasn’t fully sure. I had built up confidence for it with almost two weeks on rock. But still would it be enough?
“The sun was moving fast, there was a queue on the route, and it was now or never. I convinced myself that it would be okay if it didn’t go, while reminding myself of all the reasons I was ready. Getting through the initial crux, I felt a sense of relief. I wasn’t crazy for having this dream – regardless of what happened next. Finishing the last red point crux and eyeing up the finishing moves, I felt proud no matter how it ended. But dang it felt good to grab that jug.
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