Iker Pou Sends New 5.15b at 41 Years Old

Iker Pou, 41, has sent a new steep line at Margalef he’s named Artaburu and has graded 5.15b or harder.

“I feel Artaburu is the hardest route I’ve ever done, far above all the 5.15a climbs I’ve tried or sent,” said Iker.

“This assessment is based on the effort it has cost me, but I lack references in this degree, and that is why I have tried to be as honest with myself and with others.”

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Iker is one-half of the famous Pou brother duo, which has been traveling for 20 years in search of truly unique routes. They both possess a calm inner power, as well as strong personalities.

Iker, the younger of the two, transitions with ease from big walls to alpine routes, to sending hard sport routes, including a number of 5.15s.

Iker recalls a freaky time with his brother from a few years ago. “When we were climbing the route El Niño on El Capitan in Yosemite in 2003, we experienced a moment that we won’t soon forget.

“In the middle of the night, hanging 800 meters above the ground in our hammocks, we woke up screaming, hanging upside down in our harnesses! We clearly hand’t set things up correctly the day before, and the hammock flipped. Fortunately, we were tied in. But what a scare!”

Click to watch Iker on his new 5.15.

ARTABURU”: ¡SIN LUGAR A DUDAS, LA VIA MÁS DURA QUE HE HECHO JAMÁS! Tuve un sueño y por fin se ha hecho realidad: Estoy muy contento y aún no me acabo de creer qué me haya podido subir por ahí. He tenido que ser muy Artaburu (Cabezón o bruto en euskera) para conseguir encadenarla. Ha sido la mayor lucha física y mental a la que jamás me haya enfrentado. El proceso ha sido largo y duro, lleno de subidas y bajadas, pero por fin he sido capaz de subirme por la vía mas futurista que haya equipado nunca. En mi vida había dedicado tanto tiempo a intentar un proyecto. Sin lugar a dudas, es lo mas difícil que he conseguido realizar nunca, infinitamente mas duro que todo lo realizado hasta ahora. Han pasado seis largos años desde que equipe esta joya. Al comienzo no era capaz ni de sacar los pasos, siempre caía totalmente exhausto. Me costó mi tiempo encontrar las secuencias correctas y ganar la fuerza y resistencia suficiente para hacerme con este impresionante techo. Está claro qué nada de esto hubiera sido posible sin todos los amigos que han estado día tras día apoyándome y motivándome para que diera un poquito más de mi mismo. Especial mención a Baldiri, Víctor, Neus, Peter, Vicent, David, Gusa, Lara, Matías y a mi hermano Eneko. Y gracias también a todos aquellos que de un manera u otra habéis estado ahí, porque sin todos vosotros esto no habría sido posible. ¡Gracias a todos de corazón!” ?@jordi_canyi(filmut) ARTABURU ": WITHOUT DOUBT, THE HARDEST ROUTE I HAVE EVER DONE! I had a dream and finally it has come true: I'm very happy and I still can not believe what could have gotten me up there. I had to be very Artaburu (Cabezón or brute in Euskera) to get it enchained. It has been the greatest physical and mental struggle I have ever faced. I have finally been able to climb the most futuristic route I have ever bolted. Undoubtedly, it is the most difficult thing I have ever managed to do, infinitely harder than everything done so far. #neverstopexploring #petzlteam @thenorthface @thenorthface_climb @thenorthfacede @thenorthfaceuk @lasportivagram @petzl_official @slastikbcn @totemmt @coreclimbing @sanpower.es @fotoikatz @lasportivaspain#lasportiva#firstascent#climb

A post shared by hermanospou (@hermanospou) on Dec 19, 2018 at 12:35am PST