Double ascent of the 8c boulder Roadkill: Dave Graham & Clément Lechaptois

Together they project the line and together they also got the inspection: Dave Graham and Clément Lechaptois cracked the impressive 6c boulder roadkill on December 2021, 8.

At the beginning of the month there were numerous strong boys and girls in Val Bavona. Among them also the American Dave Graham and the French Clément Lechaptois. Both are aiming for a spectacular line that lies directly on the roadside: Roadkill (8c).

The boulder is technical, dynamic and, with its spicy finish, a perfect combo. Brilliant!

Clément Lechaptois

Dynamic train in roadkill

Dave Graham invested around five sessions until he began to feel safe to try the extremely high boulder seriously. However, certain doubts and uncertainties remained until Clément Lechaptois also added to the session and made the first serious attempts. Graham got on motivated and got the ascent of Roadkill. A little later, Lechaptois was also standing on the boulder. Double success!

The Boulder Roadkill was first climbed in January 2020 Shawn Raboutou and has since moved into the focus of numerous ambitious boulderers. Jimmy Webb (April 2020) and Kim Marschner (March 2021) made the first iterations of the line in Val Bavona, followed by Dave Graham and Clément Lechaptois.

Shawn Raboutou on the first ascent of Roadkill

That might interest you

Do you like our climbing magazine? When we launched LACRUX, we decided not to introduce a payment barrier. It will stay that way, because we want to provide as many like-minded people with news from the climbing scene.

In order to be more independent of advertising revenue in the future and to provide you with even more and better content, we need your support.

Therefore: Help and support our magazine with a small contribution. Naturally you benefit multiple times. How? You will find out here.

+ + +
Credits: Cover picture Marine Thevenet

News

Trio of alpinists climbs impressive north face | Luce e Tenebre – Punta Pioda

From March 6 to 9, Roger Schäli, Filippo Sala, and Silvan Schüpbach will climb the central section of the Punta Pioda North Face. This very steep and compact section of the wall has never been climbed before and offers extreme difficulty.

Fourth 9A boulder for Simon Lorenzi | Return of the Sleepwalker

Belgian boulderer Simon Lorenzi successfully climbs the 9A boulder Return of the Sleepwalker in Red Rock, Nevada. It is already the fourth 9A boulder of his career.

Fairer for athletes, more complicated for coaches | New IFSC rules for competition

Starting this season, new rules apply to the IFSC Bouldering and Lead World Cups. They affect the number of participants in semifinals and finals in both disciplines, and the scoring system for bouldering is also changing.

Most dangerous job in the world | Icefall Doctors on Mount Everest

Every spring, the Icefall Doctors, a team of experienced Sherpas, begin preparing for the Mount Everest season. Since the 1990s, they have been securing the Khumbu Glacier's south face for the ascent of hundreds of alpine climbers each year.

Trio of alpinists climbs impressive north face | Luce e Tenebre – Punta Pioda

From March 6 to 9, Roger Schäli, Filippo Sala, and Silvan Schüpbach will climb the central section of the Punta Pioda North Face. This very steep and compact section of the wall has never been climbed before and offers extreme difficulty.

Fourth 9A boulder for Simon Lorenzi | Return of the Sleepwalker

Belgian boulderer Simon Lorenzi successfully climbs the 9A boulder Return of the Sleepwalker in Red Rock, Nevada. It is already the fourth 9A boulder of his career.

Fairer for athletes, more complicated for coaches | New IFSC rules for competition

Starting this season, new rules apply to the IFSC Bouldering and Lead World Cups. They affect the number of participants in semifinals and finals in both disciplines, and the scoring system for bouldering is also changing.