Daniel Woods Flashes V14 and Tops Hard Boulders in Switzerland
He had a successful month-long trip, flashing his hardest problem ever and sending V15
Top American climber Daniel Woods spent a month bouldering in Fionnay, Switzerland over September and October 2022. A new film was released today by Mellow showcasing some of Woods’ best sends during his trip. The film is shot in an old-school style, using fisheye perspectives and grainy footage.
Woods’ trip was impressive. He flashed the hardest problem of his life, Compass North V14, and sent a number of other problems V14 and above. He also made a V12 first ascent.
Woods started his trip with a send of Katcha V12 on September 21. The following day he sent Foundation’s Edge V15, which was first put up by Dave Graham in 2013. The following day, he sent Scarred for Life V14, a line found on the same boulder as Foundation’s Edge. Talking about the boulder on Instagram, Woods said, “[It’s] one of the more impressive roof blocs I’ve climbed on. Rock is insane and the hold selection is surreal.”
After finding a new potential climb in the forest behind Permanent Midnight V12, Woods got to scrubbing the line and working the moves with Graham. He made the first ascent of the new problem on October 4, naming it Grape Ape V12.
Later in the trip, he managed to pull off a flash of Compass North V14, a severely overhanging power crimp line. The problem was first put up by Clément Lechaptois in May 2022. Aidan Roberts made the second ascent, Woods the third.
Via Instagram, Woods’ had this to say about the climb: “The crux hold on this thing is pretty evil. Moves are super basic and straight forward making it a great flash contender. I looked at this line back in may and was inspired to give it a good first go effort. This trip I waited for the right day with cold/dry conditions to try and do it first go. I got that day and everything flowed how I wanted it to.”
Regarding the grade, he noted, “Not sure if this thing will stand being 8B+ but who knows? Everything about this line was in my style of climbing and it still was a good fight. Regardless if it’s 8B/+, compass north is my hardest flash, so I feel proud with that.”
To end his trip he sent The Bitter End V14 and Permanent Midnight V12 on the same day, October 17. The Bitter End is extremely long and pumpy and would be 5.14d if it were a route. Woods’ send of the problem is not included in the newly released Mellow video, but it can be viewed below:
Woods has over 40 ascents of problems V15 or harder. In 2021, he got the FA of America’s first V17, Return of the Sleepwalker. He has sent a slew of V16’s, including Insomniac last year. After sending Foundation’s Edge V15 in October 2022, he sent the stunning Multiverse V15 in November. He has sent 5.15b on a rope and in his competition days, he took home gold regularly, including at the USA National Bouldering Championships.
Daniel Woods in Fionnay
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