UKC

Ethan Pringle repeats China Doll - 5.14 Trad

© www.ethanpringle.com
American climber Ethan Pringle has repeated the hard trad route China Doll, in Boulder Canyon, USA. Pringle has been steadily ticking cutting edge trad routes recently, with ascents of Sonnie Trotter's super routes the Cobra Crack in Squamish and The Path.

China Doll is graded 5.14 (F8b+) and Pringle says:

"For me, this was definitely the second hardest trad line I've done. Easier than the Cobra for sure, but harder than The Path. A more traditional style, crimpy and technical."

China Doll was originally a sport climb and finished after 30 metres of F7c+ climbing. In 2007 the route was extended and climbed without bolts by Mike Patz, giving what is now one of the USA's hardest traditional routes.

The original sport route was climbed by Bob Horan, who started looking at the line in the 1980's. On a discussion on the Rock and Ice website he stated:

"In the past I have sent some beautiful lines with marginal gear, and they sat their unrepeated because of this. I felt what a waste, a beautiful line that only a few people will ever want get up the nerve to send. I figured the same with China Doll, after putting all that time into it, why not make it so you can do it safely. I figured that you don't have to clip the bolts if you do not want to, as the latter climbers have chosen. I also ask if they climbed the route in traditional style without a bolted lead attempt."

Sources: Ethan Pringle's Blog, Rock and Ice website


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11 Oct, 2008
Amazing effort!He really seems to be translating his crazy fitness from bouldering, competitions and sport climbing to hard trad, he must have a good head on his shoulders, fair play
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