Sean Bailey makes first ascent of Duality of Man (9c) at Dry Canyon

American rock climber Sean Bailey reports he has made the first ascent of his long-term project, Duality of Man at Dry Canyon in Arizona, USA. The 29-year-old has suggested 9c for the climb, making it currently the fourth of this grade after Silence at Flatanger in Noway (Adam Ondra, 2017), DNA in the Verdon Gorge in France (Seb Bouin, April 2022) and B.I.G. at Flatanger in Noway (Jakob Schubert, September 2023). All are currently unrepeated.

Bailey's track record is impressive to say the least. He has previously redpointed up to 9b+ (Bibliographie at Céüse in France in 2021, formerly graded 9c) and bouldered up to 9A (Shaolin at Red Rock Canyon in 2024, Alphane at Chironico in 2024 and Arrival of the Birds at Chironico in 2025). He has dominated in competitions, too, winning two Lead events and one Boulder event in 2021.

Commenting after his ascent, he stated "After 4 total years and 3 seasons of climbing I was able to climb Duality. Dry Canyon did not host the easiest tactics. With only an hour or two of shade a day and sporadic weather windows, I had to find a level of patience unlike any other route I’ve climbed on. This was by far the longest I’ve spent on a project, the most obsessed I’ve been with a project, and the hardest thing I’ve climbed."

It is currently not clear when exactly Bailey made the send, but more details will follow in due course.

 

 

 

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