Megos Crushes Canada: Seven 5.14b’s in Four Days

Within 48 hours of stepping off the plane, Alex Megos launched into a Canadian climbing spree. Since arriving in Canmore
four days ago, the 22-year-old German climbing legend has sent at least seven routes 5.14b and higher, including two first ascents.

“Huge Congratulations to [Megos] for what is unquestionably the most OUTRAGEOUS day of sport climbing in Canadian history,” Sonnie Trotter, Canadian rockstar native, wrote on Instagram after Megos’ sent three 5.14 classics back-to-back: Bunda de Fora (5.14d
9a) in three tries, Kinder Surprise (5.14c 8c+) in two tries, and the first ascent of Full Nelson (5.14d 9a) on his third try.

Trotter added, “Alex is in town for a few weeks, but I’d say this was a pretty decent start.”

While Megos continues his rampage, I’m reminded of how much I just LOVE this sport. On his first day in town I showed Alex what I thought would be a beautiful new route, he managed the FA of this “prow like’ feature on only his second attempt, calling it “hard” 5.14b. But that’s only HALF the story. As I went up searching for a perfect anchor placement with the drill in hand I realized there were more holds above and with each new bolt I placed overhead, I was hoping for a miracle jug, a logical finish to the impressively difficult line. 9 or 10 bolts later I came to the final hold on the wall, and luckily it was good enough for clipping the anchors. The experience brought me back to when I bolted Dreamcatcher with @chris_sharma in 2005. I recall feeling the holds and thinking “ya, this will go, but it’ll be hard” ha ha. 11 years later, I felt the same inspiration up on the Prow as I tightened each hanger to the wall. “Yup, this will go. But it’ll be hard” I called down to Alex. Indeed it was. Just how hard remains to be seen, but it was an honour and an exciting time to be up there, visualizing the improbable sequences and opening up new terrain for others to enjoy. I get a LOT of joy out of that myself, and I think I always will. @alexandermegos

A photo posted by @sonnietrotter on
Aug 2, 2016 at 5:18pm PDT

Megos journeyed to Canada, his first time in the country, for the annual Canmore Climbing Festival,
where he’ll be presenting a slide show. However, he isn’t letting the festival obscure his climbing objectives; he’s wasted no time in ticking off
other Rockies’ test-pieces. Megos redpointed Existence Mundane (5.14b 8c), Prime Time (5.14c 8c+), Shine 5.14b (8c)—all
in two tries—and flashed Endless Summer 5.13d.

“Canmore is the hot spot of this northern sector, and it is an absolute paradise for a typical cragging climber, someone who wants the amenities of a cush
mountain town with a variety of five-star climbing options nearby.” Trotter wrote for Rock and Ice in “Talk is Cheap,” a profile about the Canadian Rockies. “Canmore sits just outside of Banff National Park on its east side in a region of Alberta known as the Bow Valley.
This alpine setting is about 200 miles north of the junction of northwest Idaho and northeast Montana-, and it is as rich with climbs as Alberta is
with oil.”

The 20-to-25-meter power and endurance climbs that are common throughout the area, “really cater to [Megos’] strength, which is both power and endurance
… He put his mutant finger strength to good use,” Trotter commented on Instagram after made quick work—“a few burns”—of the last
remaining bolt project, Iron Butterfly (5.14c/d 8c+/9a) at the crag Planet-X.

“[It’s] got crazy moves on underclings and side pulls!” Megos wrote on Instagram after finishing the route. “Psyched for a few more weeks here in Canmore!”

@alexandermegos sticking the “Iron Butterfly” move on his new route at Planet X yesterday 5.14c/d. Strong boy! He fell off higher on this attempt, but got it next go taking advantage of stormy conditions. #Canon5D 70-200mm @patagonia_climb

A photo posted by @sonnietrotter on
Jul 31, 2016 at 10:12am PDT

Another great day here in #canmore at Planet X! “The Prestige” 5.14c (8c+) has for sure one of the coolest bouldering sequences I’ve ever had on a route! The holds are big but turned in the wrong direction which makes it very interesting! @patagonia_climb @redbulladventure @dmm_wales @tenayaclimbing @sterlingrope @entreprisesclimbing @cafekraft_nueremberg @aeetechnologyde Thanks for the pic and for showing us around @sonnietrotter !! I’ll still be around Canmore till the @canmoreclimbing_festival on the 12th of August!

A photo posted by @alexandermegos on
Aug 2, 2016 at 9:44pm PDT

Watch Alex Megos crush in the video below:

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