Andreas Proft, 8a+ solo and barefoot

Last year we reported about the extraordinary German climber Andreas Proft who climbs predominantly barefoot up to the amazing grade of French 8b. In our interview he stated that he was off to Spain for a couple of months, but instead of hibernating the winter away the 36 year old has now carried out a startling ascent of Path of Excess Power, a 25m high 8a+ in Echo Valley located in Spain's Costa Blanca, as usual without shoes but this time also without a rope.

Proft knew the route intimately, having sent it with shoes two years ago and barefoot last year and last week's feat - if this is the right word - was the missing act in Proft's repertoire. He confided "right to the end I didn't know whether I'd dare to climb it solo. I toproped it several times with so much slack that I'd almost hit the deck. I'd had some sleepless nights and was pretty scared, my hands even sweat, but for some reason I wanted to climb the route and I'm happy to have got it over and done with."

We firmly believe that this last sentence tells a thousand words about solo climbing and Proft's honesty. We too are happy it's finished... well. Definitely something to meditate about.