Connor Herson has climbed an old project on Tuolumnes’s Daff Dome and has called it Pirate’s Code 5.14+. Earlier this year, Herson climbed Empath 5.14+/15- on gear.
Herson announced the send on Instagram saying that it was originally a project started by Mason Earle and Ben Ditto. “This one’s for you, Mason,” wrote Herson, “thank you so much for everything you’ve done for the climbing community, and thank you for letting me climb on your route!”
Earle was one of America’s top trad climbers until a few years ago when he was diagnosed with a severe case of myalgic encephalomyelitis, or chronic fatigue syndrome. He stopped climbing, but shares regular updates on Instagram here.
In 2021, Herson made the first ascent of Kilogram 5.14- in Tuolumne, where he started climbing at a young age. His first multi-pitch was Hermaphrodite Flake, a four-pitch 5.7 on Stately Pleasure Dome. At 16, he repeated Ron Kauk’s test-piece route Peace 5.13d, also in Tuolumne.
Earle on Ringlock Ranch
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