Jesse Grupper flashes 8c+ with Pure Imagination at Red River Gorge

Jesse Grupper isn't a name one immediately associates with outdoor climbing, on the contrary, in this phase of his life the US athlete is fully dedicated to climbing competitions and only a few weeks ago he qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympics. Perhaps this is why he decided to take a short break from training, and a short visit to Red River Gorge resulted in a flash ascent of one of the most famous routes of the crag, Pure Imagination. Guided by none other than Alex Megos, Grupper climbed this massive stamina test on his first go, without making the slightest mistake.

After his ascent the 26-year-old explained "Pure Imagination (14c) FLASH — Dang, that feels surreal to write. I’ve wanted this one for a while. I first peeked at it while trying Golden Ticket four years ago and since then I’ve brewed the idea of giving it a good first go.

Walking up to it I wasn’t fully sure. I had built up confidence for it with almost two weeks on rock. But still would it be enough?

The sun was moving fast, there was a queue on the route, and it was now or never. I convinced myself that it would be okay if it didn’t go, while reminding myself of all the reasons I was ready.

Getting through the initial crux, I felt a sense of relief. I wasn’t crazy for having this dream - regardless of what happened next. Finishing the last red point crux and eyeing up the finishing moves, I felt proud no matter how it ended. But dang it felt good to grab that jug. WOOHOOO"

Pure Imagination was equipped by Kenny Barker and freed by Jonathan Siegrist in 2010. Originally graded 9a, it was onsighted by Adam Ondra in 2012 who downgraded it to 8c+.