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
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.
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+)
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Credits: Cover picture Carlo Traversi