Nina Williams first woman to climb Too Big to Flail highball at Bishop

On 18/03/2019 America's Nina Williams repeated Too Big to Flail, claiming the first female ascent of this huge highball boulder problem at Buttermilks, Bishop, USA.

American climber Nina Williams is garnering a reputation for nerves of steel and hard highballs. Two years after making the first female ascent Ambrosia, the famous highball at the Buttermilks put up by Kevin Jorgeson in 2009, Williams now checks in with the first female ascent of the tallest highball of all, Too Big to Flail.

The 50-foot boulder problem in the Beehive area was established in 2012 by the ever-cool, calm and collected Alex Honnold and boasts a V10 crux at circa half-height. Williams unlocked the sequence last year on toprope, as per usual, and walked the line on March 18th. Hers is only the seventh ascent after Honnold, Lonnie Kauk (2013), Steven Roth (2014), Ethan Pringle (2014), Fabian Buhl (2017) and Nick Muehlhausen (2018).

View this post on Instagram

In 2012, @alexhonnold did the first ascent of a 50ft boulder in the Beehive area of the Buttermilks. @lonniekkauk did the second ascent in 2013 followed by @ethan_pringle and @_steven_roth in 2014, @fabi_buhl in 2017, and @rockninja_8a in 2018. Two days ago, on March 18th 2019, I climbed the lucky 7th ascent of Too Big To Flail (V10/5.13d). . I’m still processing the experience and will share a more complete story later. For now I am simply, joyously grateful. . @james_lucas, @oceangoingmonkey, and @simoore: you guys hiked out SO many pads and helped maintain the serene atmosphere I wanted for this climb. It wouldn’t have come together without your help. . To the Bishop locals who donated pads: @andyliu84, @hostelcaliforniabishop, @katielambert, @benjaminditto, and the Zoo. You guys rock. I thankfully didn’t end up needing them but they sure were nice . And shoutout to @climberchica for the belay on last years’ trip when all the beta fell into place. It was a highlight of this whole journey. . The endeavor of working and climbing Too Big really does take a village, and I appreciate everyone’s help from the bottom of my heart Thank you thank you thank you. . @oceangoingmonkey and @simoore #climbing #bouldering ? #highball #payahuunadü #Buttermilks

A post shared by Nina Williams (@sheneenagins) on Mar 20, 2019 at 9:47am PDT

NEWS / Related news:

19.01.2012
Alex Honnold, interview after Too Big To Flail at the Buttermilks
A short interview with Alex Honnold after his first ascent of the boulder Too Big To Flail at the Buttermilks, Bishop, USA.

26.04.2017
Video: Nina Williams climbing Ambrosia at Buttermilks
The video of Nina Williams making the first female ascent of the famous highball boulder problem Ambrosia at Buttermilks, Bishop, USA.

03.03.2017
Nina Williams claims first female ascent of Bishop highball Ambrosia
American rock climber Nina Williams has made the first female ascent of the famous highball boulder problem Ambrosia at Buttermilks, Bishop, USA.

28.01.2019
Nick Muehlhausen climbs Too Big to Flail, super highball at Bishop
The video of Nick Muehlhausen repeating the super highball Too Big to Flail (V10), first ascended by Alex Honnold in 2012 at Bishop, California, USA.

22.12.2017
Fabian Buhl highball hattrick at Bishop, USA
At the bouldering area ​​Buttermilks in Bishop, USA, Germany’sFabian Buhl has climbed three difficult highball boulder problems: Ambrosia, Too big to flail and Old Greg.

16.01.2012
Alex Honnold, new super highball at Bishop
At the Buttermilks in Bishop (USA) Alex Honnold has freed Too Big to Flail, a super highball up the immense Luminance Block.

10.02.2014
America, Bouldering, Climbing = Bishop, Buttermilks, California
Claudia Colonia and Alessandro Penna report about their climbing trip to one of the most beautiful, and important bouldering areas in the USA: Buttermilks close to Bishop, California.