50 sessions and 7 years to get through The Dark Side (8C+) | Hardest boulder in Yosemite Valley

The American Carlo Traversi makes the first ascent of the most difficult boulder in Yosemite Valley: The Dark Side. Traversi suggests 8C+ as a rating.

It demanded a lot of endurance from him, the impressive line on a boulder block in the middle of the famous Camp 4 Yosemite Valley. Sage and Write has 50 sessions spread over seven years Carlo Traversi He tinkered with and tried out the individual moves of the aesthetic boulder until he managed to climb through it.

Last weekend I climbed my biggest and most important project in Yosemite Valley.

Carlo Traversi
The Dark Side boulder is located in the middle of the famous Camp 4 in Yosemite Valley
The Dark Side boulder is located in the middle of the famous Camp 4 in Yosemite Valley.

Traversi calls the boulder The dark side a “lifetime project” because at the beginning he had the feeling that it would take a lifetime before he could climb the boulder. And because the line inspired him so much that he was prepared to invest in the boulder for the rest of his life. He didn't have to be patient that long.

Carlo Traversi during the ascent of The Dark Side_8C plus_Yosemite Valley_Bouldering
Carlo Traversi during the ascent of The Dark Side (8C+) in Yosemite Valley.

Hard trad routes, the most difficult boulders – Traversi climbs at the limit

Carlo Traversi is a true all-rounder. He left his mark in Switzerland with the first ascent of the boulder The Kingdom in Brione his tracks, is on the rope with routes like empath (9a+) went strong and scored points Magic Line (8c+) or Meltdown (8c+) some of the most difficult trad routes in the world.

With his latest exploit in Yosemite Valley, the Boulder The dark side (8C+), Traversi proves once again that at 35 years old he is still one of the top climbing elite.

It's definitely the most difficult boulder I've ever climbed and the one I spent the most time on.

Carlo Traversi

Carlo Traversi during the ascent of Old Man Winter (8B+)

Do you like our climbing magazine? When launching the climbing magazine Lacrux, we decided not to introduce a paywall because we want to provide as many like-minded people as possible 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 Carlo Traversi

News

Michaela Kiersch in the form of her life

Michaela Kiersch wins in Catalonia. In addition to difficult routes, she struggled above all with the high demands placed on herself.

James Pearson: “That was my craziest highball”

Hard at the limit: James Pearson repeats the infamous highball 29 dots and comes shockingly close to the limit.

Alex Megos opens climbing hall | Frankenjura Academy

Partial opening of the Frankenjura Academy: From today on you can climb in Alex Megos' climbing hall in Forchheim.
00:20:25

Is Rhapsody (E11) the most dangerous route in the world?

Magnus Midtbo returns with Dave MacLeod to one of his most impressive first ascents: Rhapsody (E11, 7a).

Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter now and stay up to date.

Michaela Kiersch in the form of her life

Michaela Kiersch wins in Catalonia. In addition to difficult routes, she struggled above all with the high demands placed on herself.

James Pearson: “That was my craziest highball”

Hard at the limit: James Pearson repeats the infamous highball 29 dots and comes shockingly close to the limit.

Alex Megos opens climbing hall | Frankenjura Academy

Partial opening of the Frankenjura Academy: From today on you can climb in Alex Megos' climbing hall in Forchheim.