On November 28th Daniel Woods flashed Entlinge 8b+/c in Murgtal, Switzerland and in doing so may have made the hardest flash ever. The problem is on a roof that overhangs by 50 degrees and has only seen a few repeats since its first ascent.

Entlinge was a long term project of Fred Nicole who climbed it in 2005 and kept the ascent fairly quiet, but did give a grade of 8c. It was four years before it was repeated, by Bernd Zangerl and Franz Widmer in the space of three days. It was thought that 8b+/c may be closer to the mark, although Zangerl did say that From Dirt Grows Flowers, another 2005 8c, felt easier.

Daniel Woods flashing Entlinge ©baboonmaster.com

Woods came to the Murgtal valley on the back of a fine run of form, having made two 8c first ascents, a repeat of Dave Graham’s Big Paw 8c and numerous other hard repeats across Switzerland during the last couple of months.

After receiving as much beta as possible, he set to work on the problem. The short powerful problem suited the American perfectly, who described the ascent as ‘like climbing in a dream’. He has suggested that it may in fact only be 8b+.

Despite the slight downgrade, this would still be the hardest flash in the world to date. Adam Ondra flashed Confessions in Cresciano 8b/+ in 2009 and James Pearson flashed Ganymede Takeover (full version) 8b in Brione in February 2007, both Dave Graham problems.

Woods will now be heading to Fontainebleau, and if his current form is anything to go by there will be more news soon.

Sources
27crags - Daniel Woods
8a.nu - A Winter’s Tale
Freak Climbing - James Pearson in tour