Soline Kentzel Climbs Her First 5.14a Trad
She's joined the list of strong climbers who've repeated the aesthetic Le Voyage in France
French climber Soline Kentzel has repeated Le Voyage 5.14a trad in Annot, France. While she’s climbed several 5.14 sport climbs, this is her first 5.14 trad route.
“I breathed calmly before engaging in the very last section, a round and awkward crack that had caused more than one drop of sweat,” Kentzel said after her send. “Finally, I clipped the anchor, overwhelmed with immense relief.” The 5.14 sport climbs that she’s repeated include China Crisis 5.14a in Spain, Paradis Naturel 5.14a in Switzerland and Snails Paradise in France.
Le Voyage was first climbed in 2017 by James Pearson and it’s quickly become one of the most-climbed 5.14 trad routes, with over a dozen repeats, including by Babsi Zangerl, Caroline Ciavaldini and Melissa Le Neve.
In 2022, only weeks after learning how to trad climb and at 21 years old, Kentzel teamed up with Sébastien Berthe and freed Golden Gate, a 36-pitch 5.13a on El Capitan. They swapped leads on the lower pitches up to 5.11 and both led the 5.12 and 5.13 pitches, including the Monster Offwidth.
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