Charles Albert at Fontainebleau climbs world's second 9A boulder problem

French climbing magazine Grimper has broken the news that Charles Albert, famous for his extremely difficult boulder problems climbed barefoot, has made the first ascent of No Kapote Only, a boulder problem at the Rocher Brûlé sector in Fontainebleau for which the young bleausard has put forward the unfathomable grade 9A.

At present there are no precise details, but as things stand this is now only the second problem in the world graded 9A after Nalle Hukkataival's Burden of Dreams at Finland in October 2016. This problem is still awaiting a repeat and confirmation.

As mentioned, Albert shot to fame for his extraordinary talent coupled with the fact that his hardest climbs are all done barefoot, i.e. without climbing shoes. This is because, as he told planetmountain.com in a 2016 interview, his climbing becomes "more natural, more instinctive". Climbing barefoot requires enormous toe power, but also offers unparalleled sensitivity.

In 2016 Albert repeated several 8C problems barefoot at Fontainebleau, in 2017 he raised the bar establishing the forest’s first 8C+, La révolutionnaire. Now he's checked in with this 9A. The line that is there for everyone to see, on the outskirts of Paris in the world’s undisputed cradle of bouldering. Inspiring.

Charles Albert attempting No Kapote Only, February 2018