Watch First Ascent Up Wild Shetland Islands Wall

Dave MacLeod and Calum Muskett have climbed a new 350-metre new route on Nebbifeld on Foula in the Shetland Islands.

MacLeod, one of the U.K.’s best climbers, wrote about their first ascent on his blog here.

They called their route Ultima Thule, the name the Romans had for Foula, meaning the farthest land. Overall it goes at E7 5c, 5c, 6a, 6b, 6a, 6b, 6b, 6b, 6b, 5a. That’s basically scary 5.12.

In it, he wrote, “One more E6 pitch remained, but a long and varied one. First, more of the same bold wall climbing with no runners, then a sandy groove with collapsing footholds, culminating in a fulmar ledge, followed by a stomach crawl leftwards along the break, processing fulmars along the way and avoiding dropping loose stuff directly onto Calum.

“And then a bouldery 6b section through the capping roofs. I was quite wide eyed on this section, with the wind blasting up into my face and the knowledge that a second try would be highly unlikely at this point in the day. It wasn’t needed.

“Calum opted to follow this pitch on the static rope rather than second such a weaving pitch in a very cold and tired state. So he arrived in no time and led off up the final corner, roaring at fulmars and scaring them off very effectively.

“The next day I could hardly move.” Awesome.