Anak Verhoeven climbs 8c+ at the Gorges du Loup

This isn't the most recent news, but it's certainly worth highlighting: towards the end of August 18-year-old Belgian sports climber Anak Verhoeven travelled to the Gorges du Loup in the South of France where in just 9 days she climbed a staggering series of difficult routes, including Ultimate Sacrifice 8c+.

In truth Verhoeven's original plan had been to attempt Punt-X, the famous 9a climbed by a woman for the first time last year - by fellow Belgian Muriel Sarkany - but she found the sequence of pockets too painful and thus opted to try something different.

Something different means, in quick succession: Hot Chili X 8c, Last Soul Sacrifice 8c and the short and bouldery 8b New Power generation. This, if combined with Last Soul Sacrifice creates Ultimate Sacrifice and Verhoeven surprised everyone, including herself, by sending this combination first go. She then ended her Gorges du Loup stint in style by redointing, towards the end of the day, the 8c Qoussai, les maux de la fin.


ANAK VERHOEVEN GORGES DU LOUP TICKLIST
Ultimate Sacrifice 8c+
Hot Chili X 8c
Last Soul Sacrifice 8c
Qoussai, les maux de la fin 8c
New Power generation 8b