Uncut: Anak Verhoeven Makes the First Ascent of Belgium's Hardest Route

On June 3, Anak Verheoven made the first ascent of a long-standing project in her home country of Belgium. She graded the line, which was bolted by Nico Vavresse and Manu Vandenberg about 15 years ago, 8c+/9a (5.14c/d), making it the most difficult route in the country. Verheoven later decided to name the route Kraftio. She explained the choice on her website. “When you read it out loud, it sounds like ‘Graftiaux,'” she wrote “Chloé Graftiaux was a Belgian climber who died in the mountains almost 10 years ago. She was 23 years old when she died, which is my age now.” Watch the uncut first ascent above.

Related Videos:

• Raw Video: Margo Hayes Redpoints Biographie(5.15/9a+)
• Uncut Footage: Adam Ondra Onsights Just Do It (5.14c), With Commentary
• Lynn Hill Climbs The Orb (5.13b), Boulder Canyon, Colorado