Margo Hayes Sends Pure Imagination (5.14c) at the Red River Gorge
Margo Hayes, 18, sent Pure Imagination (5.14c) at the Red River Gorge, Kentucky on Friday—her first ascent of the grade.
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Margo Hayes, 18, sent Pure Imagination (5.14c) at the Red River Gorge, Kentucky on Friday—her first ascent of the grade. She called the steep, crimpy line “one of the most beautiful climbs
ever,” on Instagram.
Pure Imagination has been a goal of hers ever since “Sasha [DiGiulian’s] send” in 2012, Hayes told 8a.nu. “I
have a poster in my room, and I always thought it looked like one of the most beautiful climbs in The Red River Gorge.
“It felt surreal to actually clip the chains.”
Jonathan Siegrist established Pure Imagination, located at the Chocolate Factory, in 2010. In November 2012, Adam Ondra onsighted the route and
Golden Ticket on the same day. Both climbs were originally graded 5.14d, but Ondra suggested a downgraded 5.14c for each. Alex Megos and Daniel
Woods have also flashed Pure Imagination.
Hayes, from Boulder, Colorado, also sent Omaha Beach (5.14a) this weekend, on her second go.
She won the sport climbing national championships at Central Rock in Boston, Massachusettes earlier this month, and last year, placed second in her age group in both bouldering and sport climbing at
the Arco, Italy Youth World Championships.
Last summer, Hayes sent two 5.14a’s, Double Rainbow and Zulu, in Rifle, Colorado on the same day. The following weekend, she sent her first 5.14b, Waka Flocka, in only five attempts.
Hayes graduates from high school this spring and she plans to take a gap year before college to focus on climbing, art, and learning French, she told
8a.nu. “I hope to compete in several world cups as well as climb outdoors!”
Follow Margo Hayes on Instagram @margojain.
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