Jonathan Siegrist: Unquestionably Pachamama. It’s my hardest route, and it was the culmination of a huge battle last winter that proved unsuccessful. To have returned to it and completed it is one of the crowning achievements of my climbing for sure.



TF: Did you at any point think one of those ten routes was impossible to do this year (after a first attempt or after continuing failed attempts)?

JS: Definitely! Many of them felt that way for me. Chaxi was so incredibly bouldery and after my first couple tries it still seemed impossible, but I got super lucky with a cool weather period and I pieced it together. I had so much momentum during that time and I really just would not give up on anything that I tried. Another impossibility at first was the move at the end of Los Incomformistas. It was so bizarre and hard for me. I fell there many times and wondered if I could make it happen as the trip was winding down and my body was starting to feel super beat up. In the end though, Vente Años Despues—man, I almost didn’t try it because it’s so morpho and it felt like both cruxes would be a roll of the dice for me. But I’m super happy my stubborn ass stuck with it because my send was one of the best fights of my whole year. I love those moments when you’re barely in there.



TF: After one of the best years climbing of your life, what’s been a highlight aside from those sends?