Watch FA of El Flechazo 5.12 WI5+ in Patagonia
It was climbed by the strong team of Nico Favresse and Sean Villanueva O’Driscoll, who used the new Grade 7 inflatable portaledges
Belgian climbers Nico Favresse and Sean Villanueva O’Driscoll climbed a route on Patagonia’s Aguja Standhardt in February 2020 that they called El Flechazo, an 850-metre 5.12b M3 WI5+.
On the approach walking up Cerro Torre valley they didn’t have an objective or expectations. Most walls where covered in rime or soaking wet. Favresse spotted a nice, clean, dry line on Cerro Standhardt and said, “We might as well try that.”
The new line climbs up the southeast pillar of Standhardt and starts close to Motivaciones Mixtas. They climbed the route onsight, except for one crux pitch they sent on their second go. They bivied twice and finished up Exocet.
They carried the new inflatable Grade 7 portaledges, that were released last year from the Squamish-based company.
Favresse said, “They allowed us to have the comfort of a portaledge but without the inconvenience of its weight, bulkiness and difficulty to rig. It made the climb much more enjoyable and gave us the chance to stop climbing whenever we wanted to and enjoy the exposure from a comfortable hanging cocoon!”
El Flechazo
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