Gran Muralla, Northwest Face, Camino del Supay

Bolivia, Quimsa Cruz
Author: Patrick Mikelsons. Climb Year: 2022. Publication Year: 2023.

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In July 2019, Ben White and I (Australia) made a ground-up first ascent of a route in the middle of the northwest face of Gran Muralla (ca 5,100m).
Dirt-clogged cracks made progress painfully slow, and we used aid on 75 percent of the route. We spent four days climbing and an additional afternoon drilling rap stations and cleaning. Unfortunately, we ran out of time to make a free ascent.

In August 2022, three years and one pandemic later, I returned with Juan-José Catón from Chile. We were able to free every pitch, either on lead or seconding, finding difficulties to 5.11c. With subsequent work on the descent, the route is now squeaky-clean (and possibly more like 5.11-). We named it Camino del Supay (250m, 5.11c) after the Andean god and ruler of the subterranean world. [Editor’s Note: This route lies to the right of Espiritu Vertical (7 pitches, 7a+, Condori-Tarqui, 2016).]

— Patrick Mikelsons, Australia



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