Petzl RocTrip - Kalymnos, Greece

On the first day, the Ultimate Routes were seeping from a huge storm the week before, but climbers were able to work through the moves anyway. On the following day, the rock was dry and the sending started. Charlotte Durif (FRA) and Martina Cufar (SLO) both redpointed the women’s route (8b). The super-overhanging route goes on forever, climbing 60 meters on psychedelic tufas and surreal stalactites. The men’s route continued to keep competitors at bay with several cruxes: a bouldery lower section, a long, hard move under the main roof to reach a 6-foot stalactite and a steep headwall spotted with tufa blobs. 

Long climbing days ended with an hour and a half moonlit boat ride on roller coaster seas back to the harbor where ravenous climbers filled the local restaurants. Evening highlights included slideshows by Alex Huber, Chris Sharma, Arnaud Petit and Stephanie Bodet. Aris Theodoropoulos gave a presentation of the history of climbing on Kalymnos and the newest edition of his guidebook. For a sample of the local island culture, the municipality of Kalymnos graciously organized a Greek-themed evening with traditional music, dancing, food and wine.