Seb Bouin vs vintage Verdon climbs

Seb Bouin usually climbs on Rive Gauche, the left bank of the Verdon where all the steepest overhangs are located along with the hardest sport climbs. However, it’s the other side of the canyon that hosts the classic climbs of the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s, with its pristinely smooth slabs and ubiquitous exposure.

In this video the French climber dives into the past and repeats some of the historically most important climbs such as Les Enragés (the first multi-pitch in the gorge established over a period of 9 days in 1968 by Patrick Cordier, Patrice Bodin, Lothar Mauch and Patrice Richard), L'Ange en Décomposition by Philippe Maclé, Pichenibule first ascended by Jacques Pschitt Perrier and freed by Patrick Berhault, Les Spécialistes freed by Jean-Baptiste Tribout in 1987 and one of the hardest routes in the world at the time. And of course he tries his luck on the 1984 Patrick Edlinger masterpiece Take it or Leave it, and the 8b+ Les Braves Gens ne Courent pas les Rues, freed by Jibè in 1987. These are great, great routes from yesterday that continue to exert their power today.

Link: FB Sébastien Bouin

TOPO: Verdon Gorge rock climbing in France