Neil Gresham
Steve McClure flashes Impact Day, difficult trad climb at Pavey Ark, UK
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1 / 2Neil Gresham
50-year-old Steve McClure continues to garner attention, this time for his flash ascent of the difficult and somewhat dangerous trad climb Impact Day up at Pavey Ark in England’s Lake District. The route begins with a runout start where a fall is best avoided, and is followed by a series of small crimps on the upper section that lead to the top. Were it to be bolted, the climb would probably warrant French 8a, instead it’s graded E8 6c. McClure climbed it straight off, after having watched friends try the crux start.
McClure's skill is indisputable. For decades he was the best sport climber in his country, and even today he is one of the few in the world to have climbed 9b. He also fares extremely well at trad climbing having onsighted up to E8, Nightmayer at Dinas Cromlech in Wales in 2019. So far only James Pearson has managed to do better, with his flash ascent of Something's Burning at Stennis Ford in Pembroke, back in 2014.
Steve McClure thanks: Petzl, Marmot
