Marc le Menestrel


Quick Info

From: France 🇫🇷
Gender: Male
Hardest Boulder (Worked): 8B
Hardest Boulder (Flash): 7B+
Hardest Sport (Worked): 8c+
Notable Partnerships
Antoine Le Menestrel
Family
Antoine Le Menestrel (sibling)

Contributors
25 contributions since 13th January 2021.
TdG
12 contributions since 8th August 2025.

Quick Info

From: France 🇫🇷
Gender: Male
Hardest Boulder (Worked): 8B
Hardest Boulder (Flash): 7B+
Hardest Sport (Worked): 8c+
Notable Partnerships
Antoine Le Menestrel
Family
Antoine Le Menestrel (sibling)

Features in The Real Thing, Bleau.

https://www.facebook.com/climbing.in.the.80s/photos/a.270388289694020/446421228757391

Contributors
25 contributions since 13th January 2021.
TdG
12 contributions since 8th August 2025.

Library


Pics + Vids

No pics or vids yet.


Ascents

18 recorded ascents.

This timeline is missing some ascents where the date of the ascent is unknown.
Sort
Climb Grade Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade
Just Do It 8c+ Lead | worked May 1994
Second ascent.

References

[1] News report from Allez magazine issue 4 http://king-dino.blogspot.com/2011/04/allez-southern-californias-crag-mag.html

[2] Pic by Steve Lewis who met him out there and witnessed the ascent. There may be further pics in an issue On The Edge from 1994 or 1995?

Le Minimum 8c Lead | worked 1986
First ascent.
The Big R 8b+ Lead | worked May 1995 8c
First ascent.

Graded 14b initially which would have made it the third of the grade in America at the time.

http://king-dino.blogspot.com/2011/04/allez-southern-californias-crag-mag.html

Les Mains Sales 8b Lead | worked 1984
First ascent.
Le Fluide Enchanté 8b Lead | worked Before 18th Sep 1985
First ascent.
Le Bidule 8a+ Lead | worked 1984
Rêve du Papillon 8a Lead | worked 1983
First ascent.
La Brioche 8a Lead | worked 1985
Climb Grade Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade
L'Alchemiste (pre-break) 8B Boulder | worked 1996 8B
First ascent.

One day I was trying with Sébastien Frigault. He makes a good try, where he nearly reaches the right hand hold at the top. It had taken me 3 years to get to that point and for him a few sessions sufficed. I told him I was impressed and he answered "It is normal the old generation must leave place for the new." [Laughing] I got annoyed and did it next try. [1]

Facebook comment from Marc on Nalle's repeat:

Hello Nalle! It is cool to see your pic and drive for a new way to do the Alchemist. I remember this boulder as one of the greatest climb I ever did. The pinch was so wonderful to hold, as must be the slope you photographed. Of course, I resented very much the breaking of the holds, without having ever figured out what happened. With much encouragements!

Marc

PS. I did the first ascent in 1996 and repeated it the year after, in 1997, before the camera of the video Bleau. These are the only two ascents to date. [2]

Repeated in 1997 for the video.

References

[1] OTE

[2] https://www.facebook.com/hukkataival/photos/this-hold-makes-it-possible!/814307881916101/

[3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIreNKro7QU?t=2565

[4] https://www.instagram.com/p/CN1hLG4A_4x/

Khéops 8B Boulder | worked 1998
First ascent.

FA: L. Avare / M. Le Menestrel (1998)

References

[1] 7+8 guide, 2016

La Merveille 8A+ Boulder | worked 1999 8A/8A+
First ascent.

References

[1] On The Edge Issue 84, page 20

Partage 8A+ Boulder | worked 1999 7C+
First ascent.

References

[1] On The Edge Issue 88, page 16

[2] https://www.instagram.com/p/C09aKQQtBaT/

Careless Torque 8A Boulder | did not finish 1999

References

[1] On The Edge Issue 88, page 16

Déviation 8A Boulder | worked
First ascent.
Le Surplomb de la Mée (Pre-Break) 7C+ Boulder | worked 1992 8A+
First ascent.

8A+. First ascent after hold breakage. Marc repeated the problem for The Real Thing (@43:00), released in 1996.

References

[1] https://youtu.be/brbxoKEgsw0?t=2582

Lucky Luke 7C Boulder | worked 1993
First ascent.
Brad Pit 7C Boulder | worked 1997
Second ascent.

The first ascent using a foot on the rail.

Stu Littlefair:

I was there to see Marc do Brad Pit. It was pretty incredible. These days a high foot seems obvious but it was so visionary then, and he knew he was going to do it that way from the photos of Jason [Myers] on it. [1]

References

[1] https://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,31061.msg626382.html#msg626382

[2] Date is approx https://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,33546.msg677007.html#msg677007

Deliverance 7B+ Boulder | flash 1997

The same day as working out the high-foot beta on Brad Pit. Date is approx [1].

References

[1] https://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,33546.msg677007.html#msg677007

Climb Grade Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade
Climb Grade Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade