Jonathan Siegrist: More from Rifle

Continuing his tear of Rifle, Colorado’s hardest routes, Jonathan has completed Waka Flocka Flame (5.14c) and Girl Talk (5.14b/c).  It’s been hard to keep up with Jonathan as he quickly dispatches one hard route after another.  After a missed photo opportunity on The Crew (5.14c), I made a point to ask what route he planned to try next.  He told me Waka Flocka Flame (5.14c) was next on the list.  “Surely, that will take a few days,” I thought.  The next time I saw him he had already sent it in a handful of tries.  With that valuable lesson learned, I vowed to follow him around like paparazzi.  We met at the massive and intimidating Bauhaus for his attempt on Girl Talk (5.14b/c).  “I’m still working this one out and don’t have all the beta yet,” he told me.  “It might not make for great video.  I’m going to try to send but I probably won’t.”  Well, of course he sent the route and I was smart enough this time to get the send footage on video. 

Girl Talk starts with a few bolts of intense bouldering before getting to a big jug rest in the middle.  Jonathan is shown here on the low crux.  All Photos: DPM

It’s been an amazing season here enjoying Rifle’s prime condition.  Routes that were once considered cutting edge American test-pieces are being climbed in a handful of tries.  And not just by Jonathan.  There is a crew of incredibly talented climbers here that make hard routes look easy.  After filming Jonathan on Girl Talk I thought, “Is that really 5.14?  It just looked so easy.”  Jonathan and the others in Rifle are a true testament to the rising standards of the ‘average’ American sport climber.  Stay tuned for a video report on Rifle including footage from Jonathan’s ascent of Girl Talk.      

After the rest, the route continues with non-stop difficulties that culminate in a big dyno seen in the next photo.

As always, Jonathan will be certain to share his own thoughts on his time in Rifle on his excellent blog.  

-MW