Charles Albert, Barefoot Climber, Establishes World’s Second V17
Big news for the bouldering world!
Unlock this article and more benefits with 50% off.
Already have an Outside Account? Sign in
40% Off Outside+.
$4.99/month $2.99/month*
Get the one subscription to fuel all your adventures.
- Map your next adventure with our premium GPS apps: Gaia GPS Premium and Trailforks Pro.
- Read unlimited digital content from 15+ brands, including Outside Magazine, Triathlete, Ski, Trail Runner, and VeloNews.
- Watch 600+ hours of endurance challenges, cycling and skiing action, and travel documentaries.
- Learn from the pros with expert-led online courses.
*Outside memberships are billed annually. Print subscriptions available to U.S. residents only. You may cancel your membership at anytime, but no refunds will be issued for payments already made. Upon cancellation, you will have access to your membership through the end of your paid year. More Details
After years of attempts, Nalle Hukkataival made history in 2016 by climbing Burden of Dreams in Finland. He graded the problem V17 (9A), making it the first climb of this difficulty in the world. Meanwhile, Charles Albert, of Fontainebleau, France, was putting up some wildly difficult blocs in his home area… and all barefoot.
Now, Albert has made the first ascent of the world’s second V17, No Kpote Only in Rocher Brûlé, Fontainebleau, France, sending it in only 20 sessions, and, of course, doing it without shoes.
Albert told the French website Fanatic Climbing that No Kpote Only, “starts in the 8B [V13] located on the left-hand side of the boulder, climbing a crack. You have 3 traverse moves around 8A+ [V12] followed 2 extremely hard moves before reaching the undercling that is the stand start of “Gaia” 7C [V10].”
He went on, “You need to hold a crimp left hand going to a good right foot hold , before a hand-foot match and a dyno in a far two-finger pocket again with the right hand. Then you need to cross in the underclings of the stand start of “Gaia” and finish on it. Except for the 2 extreme moves, the holds have been hammered but it’s not too uncomfortable to climb.”
The 20-year-old Albert’s barefoot style has made him a novelty in the climbing world, not least because of how hard he sends. His ticklist includes impressive problems like Monkey Wedding (V15) in Rocklands, Le Pied à Coulisse (V16) in Fontainebleau, and the first ascents of La Revolutionnaire (V15), La Revolutionnaire Extension (V16) and Hypothèse assis (V16), all in Fontainebleau.
More info to come!
For footage of Albert projecting No Kpote Only, jump to 7:10 in the video below:
Also Read
Nalle Hukkataival Sends World’s First V17
New V15s, A Barefoot V16 FA And Other Big Bouldering Sends
Also Watch
VIDEO: Charles Albert Sends Monkey Wedding (V15) Barefoot in Rocklands