July 18 2022
We were in the middle of the forrest, surrounded by nothing but pine and brush. The sun beat down on us mercilessly, but we didn't care. We were on a mission - to conquer Ghislain's Bring the Pain V8. Now, let me tell you, this climb is no joke. It's a single move that sounds simple enough - just grab the crimp and mantle. But don't be fooled. This problem has been around for 20 years and has only seen 3 ascents that I know of. That's how tough it is. Legend has it that a top local climber once threw his shoe in the lake out of sheer frustration after failing to top this nightmare. And let me tell you, I can understand why. But for my friend Guillaume, who's used to struggling through the world's hardest topouts in Fontainebleau, this climb was child's play. He made it look easy. As for the rest of us, well, let's just say that this climb has earned the icon denoting high risk. And it's not because of the landing - it's because of what it does to your knees and fingertips. But despite the challenges, we were determined to conquer this beast. And you know what? We did it. We grabbed that crimp, we mantled like champions, and we emerged victorious. And let me tell you, there's no feeling in the world like standing on top of that boulder, looking out over the trees, and knowing that you've conquered one of the toughest climbs out there.