Heather Weidner Sending 5.14a in Colorado
I am the Walrus is the longest pitch at the grade in the Flatirons at 150 feet
In June, Heather Weidner climbed I am the Walrus, a 150-foot 5.14a sport route at Seal Rock in Colorado’s Flatirons. Weidner, who’s in her early 40s and became a new mom at the end of 2021, appeared on the cover of Gripped in 2016 climbing China Doll, a 5.14 trad route – watch her send it in a video below.
I am the Walrus was bolted by Jonathan Siegrist in 2012, who later gave permission to Elliott Bates to have a go. Bates moved eight bolts from the original line over to some long tufa features before Siegrist returned in 2015 and grabbed the first ascent. It was first graded 5.14b but downgraded to 5.14a after kneebar beta was found. The route is considered one of the best at the grade in the area. It follows 14 bolts up burly sections with dynamic and technical movements.
About her send of I am the Walrus, Weidner said, “My crux of I Am the Walrus, 5.14a in the Flatirons, revolved around a huge span to the tufa about 1/3 of the way up this 40 meter pitch that for many weeks I didn’t think was possible. At 5’5” tall with a 0 ape index, I could barely hold the left-hand sloper and couldn’t reach the best part of the jug on the tufa. I watched with envy as many other climbers at 5’8” or taller floated this move, only to fall at the second crux (top of tufa) or at the heartbreaking ‘Flagstaff-esque’ crimpy boulder problem before the chains. I worked on these two moves for weeks without success, but with much experimentation and practice this crux slowly began to feel possible. I worked the climb top-down, trying for low-points instead of high-points, with the thought that if I ever got through this low crux I would not fall at the middle or upper crux. My first time getting through this boulder problem I went to the chains.”
Weidner’s first 5.14b was back in 2014 with Stockboys Revenge, and she went on to climb several 5.14a lines, including The Juice, Black Ball and The Rainbow. Watch Weidner send I am the Walrus in a short film below.
I am the Walrus 5.14
Weidner on China Doll
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