Matilda Söderlund has done with „The Elder Statesman“ his first 9a-Route. The Route first ascented from Markus Bock, in located on Rotenstein in Frankenjura and is a direct version of The Last Rites 8c+, which she sent yesterday. Amazingly, she only needed four sessions to do her first 9a.

„It is a hard boulder with the hardest move involving a mono. It suites me perfectly. Long moves on super small holds.“ This is what she reported yesterday after having done the 8c+ version.
„The Last Rites was my first project of this trip. It suits me very well with the small crimps. I was in Frankenjura in April and after that trip I decided to return again in October, so I’ve been preparing for this trip since then. It seems like training is paying off, mainly working on my power. Next on my list of routes here is the direct start of The Last Rites! (9a).“

Photo: (c) Sammy Dahlman