Black Velvet Canyon

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Back in the middle of November we made a trip to Red Rocks to escape the snow falling in California. I had a plan to try a very rad and HARD project in Black Velvet Canyon that was originally tried by @nalle_hukkataival. Initially I could not do a single move. But over the course of 11 days... with many moments of frustration I found myself on top of what could be the hardest boulder in the country.

References

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMIIffUMV8g

[2] https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs6DF_FBU5W/

The final 16 days of my trip I put myself in complete isolation in the desert and camped. Every night I just watched video footage of myself on the line to stay psyched. I started talking to myself a lot as if someone was there with me haha. The final week the climb was starting to feel more stressful than fun. I’d wake up every morning with butterflies in my stomach, anxious to know if I could get one more move further or not. Waiting for the point where I was gonna see regression and then that was it for my motivation. But each day I told myself to go one move further... every day was just a training day to get fitter. 2 days before I sent I stuck the final move and fell kicking my toe hook up into the final end jug. I knew then that I had sent... but didn’t. I also knew I had one more good day left before conditions were too hot to do it. I put everything in on that final day and sent. Sent alone (got iPhone footy of the send). It was a powerful feeling doing it alone. My friend Jon Glassberg walked up as I was preparing for the final slab and filmed me topping out. Was a fuckin dope experience that I will take with me into the next projects. [1]

From the video of his ascent [3].

Spotter:

How'd it feel?

Daniel:

Hard.

References

[1] https://www.8a.nu/news/woods-explains-his-successful-9a-insanity-f7jh0

[2] https://www.instagram.com/p/CNK44j-jDtP/

[3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoEeHwd5GTs