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Potentially World’s Hardest Trad Route – Bon Voyage E12 (9a) | Adam Ondra



Trad climbing is a kind of climbing I always hesitated to immerse myself in. ✊ Influenced by the film Hard Grit, the idea of a bold and dangerous route where you can seriously hurt yourself was not very tempting to me, even though I climbed many bold routes on Czech sandstone. When I first heard of @OnceUponAClimb – James Pearson’s Bon Voyage route, I knew I had to go there immediately. It simply looked too good. Relatively safe, but runout climbing with seriously difficult boulder problems on immaculate sandstone in the idyllic countryside of southern France. 

As icing on the cake- potentially the world’s hardest trad route (in terms of physical difficulties) – I found it too tempting. James Pearson himself came along the way, showed me the moves and I admitted that the route was hard. I had to dig deep, take some rest and execute. Still, it was not enough to do it straight away. I had to take some big falls from the end of the crux sequence, eventually even testing the worst possible fall before I could link all the moves of this brutal masterpiece.

Enjoy this masterpiece and do not forget to watch the bonus video ➡️ https://youtu.be/dQfW-hnmaf0 – commented ascent of this amazing route with my commentary for all CLIMBING FANATICS and LOVERS in my membership section right now.

Check out @OnceUponAClimb channel for more rad climbing joy, routes and stories.

Timecodes:

00:00 – Intro
00:55 – Day 1 (Annot, France)
01:25 – Adam Ondra talks about James Pearson
01:47 – James Pearson – @OnceUponAClimb, professional climber from the UK
03:00 – Bon Voyage E12 9a trad
04:40 – Adam’s strategy
05:38 – James’ story
06:35 – The last piece of gear
08:13 – No fear falling
10:00 – Swithc the method
12:48 – Enjoy SENS cricket snacks
13:10 – What is important in trad climbing?
16:00 – French 9a (E12), for sure
17:40 – Day 2
22:19 – Attempt #1
23:44 – Attempt #2
24:40 – Day 3 – Attempt #3
25:40 – Attempt #4
30:45 – Crux
31:18 – Top
31:45 – Adam calls to James
32:35 – James talks about the route and Adam’s scent
33:21 – @WideBoyz? 🙂
33:41 – Outro

ENGLISH SUBTITLES AVAILABLE IN THE VIDEO SETTINGS
ČESKÉ TITULKY JSOU DOSTUPNÉ V NASTAVENÍ VIDEA❗

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Climbing shoes I use in this video: @LaSportivaYT Solution:
https://www.lasportiva.com/alpencore/geolocalize/url?type=product&sku=20g000100

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Have you seen this video of mine ?!

Have you seen this video of mine ?!

Thumbnail picture by: Petr Chodura

SPECIAL THANKS TO
JAMES PEARSON – @OnceUponAClimb

STORY BY
ADAM ONDRA

DIRECTED & EDITED BY
LACO KORBEL

CAMERA
PAVEL KLEMENT
LACO KORBEL
PETR CHODURA

PRODUCTION
JAN VERNER
JAKUB PÍNA
KATEŘINA KUŘÁTKOVÁ

SUBTITLES BY
JARKA MARČEKOVÁ

© ADAM ONDRA 2024

SONGLIST
TeaTime – Intense Hybrid Trailer
Peter Sandberg – Amber
Peter Sandberg – Sunbeams
Score Squad – Inhale life

#climbing #france #rockclimbing #tradclimbing

42 Comments

  1. Adam you're a true legend for climbing everything in every style! Absolutely amazing once again. James big congrats again on the first ascent.
    Also James, yes…we're filthy filthy crack climbers 😂😅

  2. When climbers keep sticking those things (sorry but I dont know the proper terms) into those cracks / holes to hopefully later hold your body weight if you fall, does the rock ever get worn out? That is if many climbers use the same crack / hold does with time the crack / hole gets bigger? So someday in the future the spot is too big to hold that safety gadget?? I know water can wear rock away. What about the metal thing, especially if it has to hold a swinging person?

  3. I so appreciate Pearson's perspective at the end. When I was young in the 80's and establishing new routes I reached a point where I was satisfied with what I had accomplished. Sure, there were people climbing way harder than me, but for me, I pushed myself hard to reach my goal and did that. Climbing changed at that moment and ever after has been about enjoyment more than accomplishment. I've moved on to other accomplishments like marriage, family, profession, and spiritual that are even more satisfying. There's so much out there – feel free to chase the next dream.

  4. The hardest trad route in the world and a potential ground fall…. And you do not wear a helmet…

    WHY??

  5. The hardest trad route in the world and a potential ground fall…. And you do not wear a helmet…

    Why???

  6. don’t mind watching this guy because he ties off Alex honald doing free solo brings me out in a cold sweat even when I know he didn’t fall.

  7. okey, I can translate the next videos for free so that it truly reflects what is being said in the videos…

  8. Thanks for the inspiration James. The most important thing about Walk of Life is that you made the effort to go down and get it done. Well done. This latest route looks amazing 👏👍

  9. Amazing camera work and editing. You can clearly see everything that he's doing, as he's explaining it

  10. Is it called Bon Voyage because of the times you fall climbing it? The spirit of not giving up! The place was Amazing..even for non climbers.

  11. Never ever understood all the hate that James got for saying a route was harder than what others thought. To many climbers that were not and still aren’t on his professional level of climbing had to much to say. It’s JUST climbing bruh. No one is going to lose millions of dollars from “over grading” a climbing route or two.
    Glad your still putting up super gnarly trad routes! Cheers 🍻

  12. Think Pete and Tom will come and climb this and downgrade to 8C+ for that final comment 😂

  13. For those of us who understand those sweet little self-depreciating curses Adam utters when falling, it makes it all even better, more humane, and honest. Thank you for not cutting them off! Amazing journey for an exceptional climber. James seems such a kind soul too and you can see how much it all meant for him

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