Chris Sharma has just climbed his Clark Mountain project - a contender for the world's hardest route.

As the film producers Big Up report on their blog:

"Chris returned to the States this summer fitter than ever and with full focus on the Clark Mountain project. About ten days ago he had a breakthrough attempt, getting a few moves below the lip of the cave. He called us to let us know he was close, and B and Coop flew out to try and catch the send. Last week it hit 100 degrees in Vegas, and conditions were not ideal for limit climbing, but on Thursday, 9/11 it all came together, he owned every hold, did every sequence exactly right, and topped out his hardest, proudest route."

Chris Sharma talked extensively about this route in the recent interview for the BMC's Summit magazine. Here's a short extract from it:

Niall Grimes: Is there something, over the next five years, that you want to achieve? Is there a place you want to take climbing to?

Chris Sharma:For me, if I could do that project on Clark Mountain, I’d be satisfied. It’d leave behind something that’d be a milestone in the world of climbing. But at the same time, climbing’s a very personal thing – I’m not really thinking about how it affects anyone else. Although, it is great that through the videos people get motivated and inspired. It’s great to have that as a way to contribute to the climbing community.

Niall Grimes: Do you feel like you are reflective towards the end of your climbing career at all?

Chris Sharma: Yeah. If I do want to do certain things, like this project in Clark Mountain, then I have to make it happen. I’ll be 27 next month, that much older, that much closer to the end of my career. Now is the time to take advantage of the fitness and the strength that I have. It’s kind of motivating to do something about it, to actually focus and channel my energy in one direction. And I guess giving more thought to how I can make climbing something that will last and support me throughout my life.

Read the rest of this interview
This was an exclusive interview for issue 51 of Summit magazine, sent to all BMC members. Join the BMC today to get your copy of Summit. The article will also appear online in three months.

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