New 5.14 Roof Crack Climbed Without a Rope
Tom Randall has completed one of his most audacious projects to date, a 60-metre horizontal offwidth in Germany
Accomplished crack climber Tom Randall has completed what is likely the most difficult urban crack ever climbed with his new route Autobahn in Berlin, Germany. He climbed it without a rope, but had a harness, a 6 mm cord and two #5 cams.
The 60-metre roof crack follows what Randall described as the “best longest and hardest offwidth” of his life. As Randall shimeyed along upside down, his hand maintained a constant technique of hand/fist stacks while his legs were jammed awkwardly in a wide pony style.
When Randall had to rest, he’d clip the cord from his harness into a cam to shake out. He’d then remove the protection and free-solo to the next rest. The roof crack is above water, but Randall said, “it’s deffo a bit nerve wracking on the intro and outro 15m sections.” Randall’s new route is said to be in the 5.14b/c range, but he’s yet to grade it. He said, “…the right mindset can take you that extra bit and I wobbled onto the ground on the other side in a sweaty, cobwebby, dusty heap. Really satisfied to have climbed my absolute best (for me) and that the hard work paid off.”
Randall and fellow British crack climber Pete Whittaker made the first ascent of Century Crack, one of the world’s hardest roof cracks, in the U.S.A. back in 2011, a route that’s been graded 5.14b. Randall used the same training regime to prepare for Autobahn.
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