Three of the world’s leading climbers — Matilda Soderlund, Sasha DiGiulian, and Brette Harrington — worked together to send an 8c/5.14b big wall in Spain this week.
They climbed “Rayu,” a 15-pitch, 610m route in Peña Santa in Picos de Europa. Established by the Pou brothers and Kico Cerda in 2020, the latest ascent marks the route’s first repeat and a major milestone for women climbers.
DiGiulian, Soderlund, and Harrington share a moment at the belay. Photo: Red Bull Content Pool
“Second ascent and first female ascent,” DiGiulian wrote on Instagram. “This also marks the hardest graded big wall achieved by a female team…The route is mainly trad climbing, making it very adventurous and exposed at some places.”
DiGiulian and Soderlund both sent the 8c crux pitch, while Harrington climbed every pitch except that one — which would have been her first send at that difficulty.
However, Harrington led the team up many of the scariest pitches, the team said in an interview.
“She’d fiddle in small wires, set Totem cams, and brave no-fall terrain,” the article said. “She then showed the team key gear placements so they could swap leads on the next round. With protection points 30 or more feet apart, the fall potential is more than 60 feet.”
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A ‘very adventurous’ route
The line begins with several pitches of primarily 7a+ climbing before the pitches increase in difficulty. Its often overhanging walls require tricky gear placements and bold climbing that make it “very adventurous and exposed,” Soderlund wrote.
Sending the route required combining the team’s skill set, DiGiulian said. That meant leaning on the trad climbing and alpine experience of Harrington and Soderlund.
It’s also a major comeback for DiGiulian, who underwent her second hip reconstruction just two years ago, and didn’t know if she’d ever return to professional climbing.
DiGiulian questing on the techy route. Photo: Red Bull Content Pool
“This route been a mentally challenging journey — with heady leads on adventurous trad climbing terrain,” DiGiulian wrote on Instagram. “Learning the fickle gear placements and the direction of the route with @bretteharrington and @matilda_soderlund has been a cool challenge to grow from.”
Climbing spectators will have a chance to see these crushers in action on “Rayu.” They took a film crew and expect to release a documentary about the accomplishment sometime next year.
