Alexander Megos climbs 9a-route underground flash

The German professional climber Alexander Megos succeeds in a flash ascent of the underground route (9a) in the Massone climbing area.

Announced again Alex Megos a success message. For once it's not a bouldering block in the Frankenjura and no 9c in Céüsebut a 9a route. The special thing about it: Alex climbed the route flash. So he never tried the moves on the route and scored the route - based on information from other climbers - in the first attempt.

I have already climbed 9a onsight

While inspections of 9a routes were a sensation a few years ago, there are more and more climbers who crack this level. However, climbing a route in the ninth degree of French flash or even onsight is still a rarity.

In 2013, Alex Megos wrote the onsight inspection (without information about the route) of Estado Critico Climbing history. Beside him only managed Adam Ondra. It was Adam who was able to climb a 9a + in the first attempt, but based on information about the route (flash).

Is underground really 9a?

Apparently, Underground was originally rated 8c + / 9a and only recently traded as 9a. The professional climber Jorg Verhoeven writes:

The grip in the key point has magically got bigger and bigger over the years and it is obviously in the past that the route was originally rated 8c + / 9a.

Jorg Verhoeven

When asked by Jorg Verhoevenas to whether Alex would give the route a 9a, the German replied: “I think underground is very easy for a 9a. 8c + / 9a certainly fits better than rating. And to be honest: I climbed a lot of 8c + that were harder than underground. ”Whatever the level of difficulty, the performance of Alex Megos is impressive.

Alexander Megos during the Flash inspection of Underground (9a)

That might interest you

+ + +
Credits: Cover picture Dicki basket

News

Jacob Cook, Hayden Jamieson and Will Sharp free climb the 1000 meter Aid route for the first time

First free ascent: Jacob Cook, Hayden Jamieson and Will Sharp free the Bigwall Aid route Picaflor (1000m, 8a+) on Cerro Capicua.

Many more foreign people have fatal accidents

Mountain emergency statistics 2023: In the Swiss Alps last year, 3501 people were in distress and 114 people had fatal accidents.

Seb Berthe repeats Trad masterpiece Bon Voyage (9a)

Seb Berthe secures the third ascent of Bon Voyage in Annot, probably the most difficult trad route in the world.

Elias Iagnemma climbs Burden of Dreams (9A)

Elias Iagnemma repeats Burden of Dreams in Lappnor and secures the fourth ascent of the world's first 9A boulder.

Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter now and stay up to date.

Jacob Cook, Hayden Jamieson and Will Sharp free climb the 1000 meter Aid route for the first time

First free ascent: Jacob Cook, Hayden Jamieson and Will Sharp free the Bigwall Aid route Picaflor (1000m, 8a+) on Cerro Capicua.

Many more foreign people have fatal accidents

Mountain emergency statistics 2023: In the Swiss Alps last year, 3501 people were in distress and 114 people had fatal accidents.

Seb Berthe repeats Trad masterpiece Bon Voyage (9a)

Seb Berthe secures the third ascent of Bon Voyage in Annot, probably the most difficult trad route in the world.