Melissa la Neve’s Rad Bat Hang on Golden Ticket 5.14c

Top comp climber Melissa Le Neve has sent Golden Ticket 5.14c at Red River Gorge in Kentucky as her fourth of the grade.

The steep route was once graded 5.14d, but downgraded by Adam Ondra after he onsighted it. la Neve used a cool bat hang for a no-hands-rest high on the route.

“I think I haven’t been happier yet to climb a line,” said la Neve. “Back in 2012, I was very impressed by the line and even more when I saw Ondra onsighting it (which was one of my most inspiring experience in climbing).”

Ups and downs ✨ climbing is such a mirror, sometimes it’s good to look upside down to get back some blood into your head and raise the fun and psyche ? ? @jan_novak_photography the one and only ! #batgirl dedicated to @ethan_pringle ? • @adidasterrex @fiveten_official @petzl_official @arkose.climbing @roobar_raw

A post shared by Melissa Le Nevé (@melissaleneve) on Nov 20, 2018 at 6:31am PST

la Neve has an impressive list of sends, including Wall Street 5.14b at Frankenjura, Black Sheep 5.14c at Ceuse, Southern Smoke 5.14c and Fifty Words for Pump 5.14c at Red River Gorge. She was the first woman to climb Wall Street, the world’s first 5.14b, established by the visionary Wolfgang Güllich.

la Neve has hinted that she hopes to one day climb Gullich’s Action Directe 5.14d, which has over 20 ascents but none by a woman.

After her first time trying the route a few years ago, she said, “The first day I did the jump, which is the crux for me. I felt very bad on the crossover move to a two-finger pocket.” She soon pulled a pulley on the same move.

Got addicted ? my trip to the US end with clipping the chain of #goldenticket 8c+ , one of those routes on my #todolist !! I think I haven’t been happier yet to climb a line ! ?? Back in 2012, i was very impressed by the line and even more when I saw @adam.ondra onsighting it (which was one of my most inspiring experience in climbing). When I first tried it this year, I was even more impressed by the waterfall of massives moves the route has. I didn’t have to jump like @michaelakiersch in the middle section (which is super impressive!) but I was on my max max max span..!? after 3weeks of project processing going through all mental steps and weather struggle, I climbed this gem ?and feel just on a cloud ! ? Thanks a lot @pugklime for bolting this beauty ! Thanks a ton to all my old and new friends for an amazing time spent in the #rrg ! And Thanks a bunch ? @andywickstrom for the artist touch of my #batgirl ! ➡️➡️ ? video coming ? !! @adidasterrex @fiveten_official @petzl_official @arkose.climbing

A post shared by Melissa Le Nevé (@melissaleneve) on Nov 27, 2018 at 7:39am PST