Alex Johnson, Katie Lamb and Oriane Bertone Send Hard Boulders
Oriane Bertone made the first recorded female ascent of a classic problem in Font
The year has started with several hard boulders being climbed by top climbers in the States and Europe. Here are just a few of the many hard problems climbed in 2022.
Alex Johnson has long been a champion of American rock climbing. Even after her time competing, taking pause, and coming back out of retirement, Johnson continues to progress on rock. Her most recent hard send was of Ching V12 in Little Cottonwood Canyon, Utah. Last year, Johnson climbed her 100th V10 with Gunga Galunga, and she started the year with The Swarm V13/14.
Katie Lamb climbed her third V14 with Direct North in Bishop, and wrote on 8a.nu, “Directly out the bulge, great line. Finally caught a warm enough day in this arctic winter. Always good to top out a Peabody.” In 2021, Lamb climbed New Base Line V14 and Jade V14.
Oriane Bertone grabbed the first female ascent of Karma V12 in Fontainebleau, according to local climbers. The problem was first climbed in 1995 by Fred Nicole at V11, but after a hold was chipped the grade bumped to V12. Bertone sent her first V12 at age 12, and has climbed three V14s with Super Tanker, Golden Shadow and Satan i Helvete Bas. After her send, she said, “Short training break before the French Cup and finally a bit of outside climbing. Super happy to have done one of the most classic boulders of the forest.”
And Natalia Grossman posted a clip from her send of Masterpiece V13 late in 2021 as recorded by Daniel Gajda.
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