FIRST ASCENT OF CAVE CRACK DIRECT BY SEAN VILLANUEVA O'DRISCOLL

16 MAY 2019

Petzl athlete Sean Villanueva O'Driscoll has recorded the first ascent of the incredible Cave Crack Direct at the back of High Sierra Dome, suggesting a grade of E6 6b.

The route starts in the huge cave of 'Offwidths Beyond', following the intimidating off-width crack through the cave roof and out onto the wall above. Sean, accompanied by Said Belhaj, Brian Weaver and photographer Claudia Ziegler completed numerous hard ascents in the area, including Andromeda (E6 6b), Lover's Crack (E7 6c), Juliet (E4 6a), Romeo (E7 6c), Negro Azabache (E6 6b), Flor de Luna (E6 6b), and Ninja Berber (F7c+) as well as the first free ascent of Hypercrack (E6 6b) and a new line - Mata Prisa (E6 6c), following the roof crack to the left of Prisa Mata.

Sean on Romeo (E7 6c) at Lover's Crag near Aguerd Oudad
Said Belhaj on the incredible Flor de Luna (E6 6b) - one of tafraout's best cracks
the notorious 'negro Azabache' (E6 6b) at the Painted Rocks
Sean getting creative on the first free ascent of Hypercrack (E6 6b) at Aguerd Oudad
Getting stuck into the sensational roof crack of Andromeda (E6 6b)
Sean Villanueva O'Driscoll reaching the lip  on the first ascent of Cave Crack Direct (E6 6b)
Sean on Ninja Berber (F7c+) on the Amalu Wall - one of the most infamous 'sport' routes in town

All images (c) Claudia Ziegler (www.claudiaziegler.com)