Rainbow Jambaia | E7 Multi-pitch at Angel Falls

Venezuela
31 pitches.

First free ascent of the main angel falls amphitheatre wall by a substantially new line. Its 31 pitches included nine E7s and took the seven-person team nineteen days to climb. The route overhangs some 60m in its 1,000m length, making it a contender for the most overhanging big wall in the world.

The route was approached from the ground with the hardest pitches headpointed. No bolts were placed for lead protection, five were placed as portaledge anchors. The team took three weeks to ascend the wall, living off portaledges for most of it. Miles Gibson did pitch 27, E7 6b, after 16 days on the wall.

Route: Rainbow Jambaia (31 pitches, E7 6b): All-free ascent of the Angel Falls wall, following the general line of Ruta Directa (1,150m, VI 6b A4, Gálvez-Medinabeitía, 1990), with many variations and an independent finish for the final eight pitches; Anne Arran, John Arran (U.K.), Ivan Calderón (Ven.), Miles Gibson (U.K.), Ben Heason (U.K.), Alex Klenov (Rus.), and Alfredo Rangel (Ven.), March 18-April 5, 2005.

References

[1] https://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/12200613400/Rainbow-Jambaia

Contributors
TdG
55 contributions since 7th October 2025.
2 contributions since 28th June 2026.

Pics + Vids

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Ascents

4 successful ascents recorded.

Climber Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade
Miles Gibson Alternate Leads | worked Apr 2005
First ascent.
Anne Arran Alternate Leads Apr 2005
First ascent.
First ascent.

But nothing could compare with Angel Falls - the granddaddy of tepui big walls. We tried it in 2002 and again in 2003, but not until 2005 did we manage to assemble the best team with the best equipment and an unshakeable conviction that this time it would go free. The main 1000m wall had been climbed only once before, and it is testimony to its difficulty and inacessibility that this A4 aid route is still unrepeated after 15 years. Our free line covered much of the same first half as the aid line but then headed off into virgin territory to finish within a stone's throw of the falls' glistening spout. In all nine E7 pitches were climbed, five onsight. Two of these fell to me, one being pitch 29 of the route's 31 pitches and climbed on the seventeenth consecutive day of climbing effort. Such an adventure is going to be hard to follow!

References

[1] http://www.thefreeclimber.com/johnHistory.htm
Ben Heason Alternate Leads Apr 2005
First ascent.