Adam Ondra in Flatanger

The beating of a hammer drill echoed off the massive gray walls of the storied Hanshelleren Cave in Flatanger, Norway, home to Change (5.15c) and Move (5.15b), two of the world’s hardest routes. It was 9 p.m. and still light. The drill belonged to Adam Ondra, who had already established seven new routes since arriving here a week ago in late May. He had thought that the projects would occupy him for the rest of the summer, then he redpointed five of those lines in one week.

“Finally I’m getting a little stronger,” he said after sending The Illusionist, a new 5.14d.

That’s the start of my new cover story in the latest Rock and Ice from January 2014! Head on over to RockAndIce.com to read the whole thing. It was great to get to work the editors of the magazine and I’m happy with how it turned out. You’ll see in the story that I basically spent the summer in Flatanger, helping Adam Ondra as he bolted and sent some of the world’s hardest new routes. It was super inspiring to be a part of the process, and really helped me find my psyche after the last surgeries I had in May.

By the way, the rock climbing in Flatanger is amazing. I can’t wait to go back!

Here’s what the cover looks like, as well as some photos from my friend Claudia Ziegler.