Watch Cédric Lachat climb Chimpanzodrome, historic Jean-Pierre Bouvier 7c+ at Saussois

It's interesting how some of the testpieces of the past remain formidable challenges of the present. A case in point is Chimpanzodrome, the fiece series of pockets that weave through one of the characteristic bulges at Saussois, circa 2.5 hours southeast of Paris. Freed in March 1981 by Jean-Pierre Bouvier, at the time it was hailed as the second hardest route in France, a month after Patrick Berhault established La Haine at La Turbie. Although by today's standards 7c+ is considered nothing more than a warm-up for the world's best, Chimpanzodrome is the direct opposite, especially if climbed onsight. As Swissman Cédric Lachat, who has redpointed up to 9b, soon found out...

Chimpanzodrome represents the beginning of Cedric’s project to examine the evolution of climbing. Through the documentary "The Future of Climbing", created by Guillaume Broust with the support of Karpos, Lachat will visit the most celebrated locations in Europe and the United States to discover how the relationship between indoor and outdoor climbing is developing. From the need to preserve the environment of the crags to the boom in climbing in gyms, there will be topics of interest for everyone.