Ethan Pringle: Black Shadow (V12) Flash

Since arriving in the Rocklands about one month ago, Ethan has systematically put down some of the hardest problems there.  His most recent ascent: a flash of Black Shadow (V12/13).  As with many of his ascents, Ethan has logged a lower than average personal grade of V12 on his 8a.nu logbook despite about 2/3rds of ascents having it logged at V13.  According to 8a.nu this problem has been flashed once before by Japan's Keita Mogaki.  This is Ethan's fourteenth ascent of V12 or harder on this trip.  Read more about Ethan's Rocklands ascents in our last news story here.

Click the image for video of the flash.  Video courtesy of Stian Engelsvoll

Black Shadowis a beautiful problem that crawls out the prow-like underbelly of a characteristically orange cave.  It culminates with a cruxy lip encounter and rock-over onto the slab.  The problem is featured extensively in the climax of the Rocklands bouldering film Orange Crush.  Jesse Bonin's ascent in the film takes a bit longer than Ethan's and demonstrates just how rewarding sending a project can be.  Read the review for Orange Crush here or download the film at HDclimbingvideos.com.