Are Thieves at Work on Everest?
THE WEEKLY ROUNDUP: One of the world’s first 5.15b’s is now 5.14d, thanks to kneepads; Vadim Timonov FA’s a V16/17; Allison Vest has her best ever back-to-back climbing days—and more.
downgrade
The Grading Pseudoscience Rulebook
How should we think about grades? Do they even matter? What are the formulas and rules we should consider? Let’s discuss.
Should Everything be Downgraded?
Knee pads, better shoes, better chalk, internet beta, and other reasons you might be tempted to downgrade a climb.
Stefano Ghisolfi on Climbing the World’s Hardest Grade… and Then Downgrading It
He became the third person in the world to climb a proposed 9c (5.15d) with a repeat of Bibliographie, but later suggested 5.15c
This Boulder Was Graded V17, Until It Wasn’t
On March 27, the 23-year-old French climber Nico Pelorson did the second ascent Soudain Seul (aka The Big Island Sit), Simon Lorenzi’s proposed V17 in Font, suggesting a slight downgrade to V16.