16-year-old frees 30-year-old project in the Gorges du Tarn

Erwan Legrand crowns a successful climbing trip in the Gorges du Tarn with the first ascent of a 30-year-old project. The 8-year-old names the route, which has a difficulty level of 16c+, Les Loges De La Fuite.

The young French climber Erwan Legrand has made the first ascent of an old project in the Gorges du Tarn climbing area that had resisted ascent for 30 years. Amazingly, the 16-year-old only needed two sessions to decipher the line.

I am happy that I managed to complete this old project, a real Kingline.

Erwan Legrand

Quick ascent

The aspiring climber made short work of various difficult routes during his trip in the Tarn Gorge. After scoring Adieu Wolfgang (8c) on his fifth attempt, he looked around for something new and came across the old project in question, which was estimated at 8c+/9a.

After two attempts on the route, the case was clear to him, Erwan Legrand told 8a.nu. "I thought the route was great and I liked it. So I decided to try it again in the next few days."

The first attempt to climb through the boulder the following day was already quite promising. The 16-year-old overcame the first two key sections and only fell on the final boulder. After two rather disappointing go's, Erwan Legrand made another attempt, which was quite a challenge: "I managed the first boulder with a lot of margin and then climbed pretty relaxed up to the last crux."

I was feeling pretty fresh and determined, so I gave it everything I had and finally made the last move.

Erwan Legrand

Erwan Legrand's Gorges du Tarn Ticklist

  • Les Loges De La Fuite (8c+, FA)
  • Adieu Wolfgang (8c)
  • Putain Putain (8b Soft)
  • Streak Out (8b) 2nd Go
  • Le Spectre De L'Ottokar (8a+)
  • Médéric Crack (8a/+)
  • Le Monologue (8a)
  • Little Big Boss (8a) 2nd Go

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Credits: Cover photo by Corentin Bruneau on Unsplash

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