Steve McClure adds 9a+ to Kilnsey, UK

Last week Steve McClure, arguably Britain's strongest sport climber, succeeded in freeing his latest project, the extension to Northern Exposure 8b+ at Kilnsey Crag in Yorkshire, UK. The route which now finishes at the top of the crag instead of an arbitray ledge at half-height, weighs in at a mighty 9a+.

The speed with which Steve linked the desperate crimpy extension surprised even Steve himself, who commented "the route finished in the middle of nowhere really, at a small hold half way up and needed extending to the top. And thats my job! The route is amazing, very continuous, with crap holds all the way. I thought it would take ages but in the end I needed just 3 days this year, plus a bunch before."

A decade after having established Mutation 9a at Ravens Tor, 37 year old McClure remains one of Britains's foremost sports climbers. To date none of his testpieces have been repeated. Anybody out there ready to pick up the challenge?


Steve McClure working his project in 2007, filmed by Alastair Lee, Posing Productions.