J-Star defeats Kryptonite 5.14d

Jonathan Siegrist has joined the ranks of America's top sport climbers by clipping the chains on Kryptonite, 5.14d.  Established in 1999 by Tommy Caldwell, Kryptonite still represents a pinnacle of difficulty and has seen just a handful of ascents from top-gun climbers like Yuji Hirayama, Adam Stack, Dave Graham, and Joe Kinder.  The route is located at the Fortress of Solitude near Rifle, Colorado.  Adding to the challenge of the climb is the notoriously short season and epic approach.

The Fortress of Solitude.  Photo: www.jstarinorbit.com 

Development at the Fortress began in the late 90's by Tommy Caldwell, his father Mike, and a few friends.  The establishment of Tommy's Kryptonite in 1999 marked America's first 5.14d and was followed by his first ascent of America's first 5.15a in 2003, the still unrepeated Flex Luthor.

     Lowering off Kryptonite.  Photo: www.jstarinorbit.com

Despite only needing 5 days  at the Fortress to complete the route, Jonathan's battle with Kryptonite has been a long one.  He wrote on his blog:

"A number of years ago, while training for my first 13d, I built a campus board in my parents garage. I dragged an old cushion from a patio chair underneath my feet and I cranked laps on those dusty Metolius rungs til my fingers gave up. On that campus board I inscribed '9a or bust' and dreamt of one day achieving such an astonishing difficulty. Obsessed with Tommy Caldwell and his achievements, I decided then that I would one day make Kryptonite my first 9a (and I even remember thinking to myself.. 'if I actually do that one day, I would just toss in the towel.. call it good.. that's how psyched I'd be')."

J-Star destroys projects and villains with equal aplomb