Fontainebleau’s Hardest Repeated
Frenchman Guillaume Glairon Mondet has squeezed up The Big Island (V15), making a rare repeat of Fontainebleau’s hardest problem.
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Frenchman Guillaume Glairon Mondet has squeezed up The Big Island (V15), making a rare repeat of Fontainebleau’s hardest problem.“I have tried The Big Island for three years,” Mondet told Rock and Ice. “And after 10 to 12 sessions, I was able to do it during my first session this winter.”
Mondet confirms the problem’s difficulty, saying, “For me it’s of course harder than the V14s I’ve done.”
Located in the Coquibus Rumont sector of the Fontainebleau, The Big Island was established by Font local Vincent Pochon in 2010. However, the problem’s original start was first climbed by Dave Graham in April 2008, but began two moves higher. This version, named The Island by Graham, is slightly easier according to Mondet.
“I never tried The Island because for me The Big Island is more obvious,” said Mondet. “It adds only two or three moves around V8, but it was scary for me because I had no crash pad for the first four moves, and it’s a bit harder of course.”
Frenchman Lucas Menegatti first repeated The Big Island in 2011, and the third ascent fell to the South African Arjan De Kock in November 2012. Mondet has made the fourth ascent.
Check out the video of Mondet’s ascent.
Photo and video courtesy of Guillaume Glairon Mondet’s Blog.