Soline Kentzel Solos The Nose in Yosemite
The French climber used rope-soloing techniques to climb the famous route over several days
French climber Soline Kentze has rope-soloed The Nose on El Capitan in Yosemite over three days. This was Kentzel’s first big wall rope-solo attempt, for which she learned the skills only days before.
In 2022, Kentze and Seb Berthe freed the El Capitan 5.13 route called Golden Gate. They then climbed The Nose in under 10 hours. Kentze was with Berthe for much of Berthe’s free ascent of the Dawn Wall – which you can read about here.
“Throughout the 3-and-a-half-day ascent, what I was hoping for unfolded before my eyes: the higher I climbed, the more peaceful I felt,” Kentze shared about her Nose solo. “I was so lucky to be up there before the seasonal traffic—I was the only big wall climber on the route… Thanks to all the women who inspire me day after day — especially Silvia Vidal, who made me dream about soloing El Cap through her writing in Valley of Giants.
One year ago, Kentzel has repeated Le Voyage 5.14a trad in Annot, France. While she’d climbed several 5.14 sport climbs, this was 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.
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