Watch now: "L'Envol" With Katherine Choong
Katherine Choong, the first Swiss woman to climb a 9a route, is looking for a new challenge. This challenge is called «Fly», is 550 meters long, consists of 20 pitches – the top three of which are graded 8b, 8c, and 8b+ – and is located in the Lauterbrunnen Valley in Switzerland. Katherine's film «L'envol» shows the athlete climbing at her mental and physical limit, and the challenges and moments of happiness that a rope team brings with its own partner.
A personal reportÂ
After climbing for some twenty years on single-pitch routes and in competitions, I needed some new challenges. This was why in 2021, I started tackling some difficult big multi-pitch routes. In 2023, after having climbed several of them, including “Hattori Hanzo” 8b+ max (280 meters) and “6.4 Sekunden” 8b+ max (170 meters) I felt ready to finally attempt the impossible: Fly.Â
Watch the film:
Katherine Choong attempting to climb the multi-pitch route Fly (8c, 550m) in the Lauterbrunnen Valley, Switzerland.Â
What I like about rock climbing is that there is no room for competition. The challenge is just to compete against yourself and go the extra mile. Feeling that your body and mind are in perfect harmony to accomplish feats you never thought you’d be capable of. That need to draw on resources you had no idea you had, to find solutions to the complex problems the rock throws up and to carry on believing when nothing seems possible anymore. When the game comes so close to the limits of our performance, it is above all, the support of your partner that allows you to reach the summit. The adventure experienced together, emotions such as fear and doubt but also joy; the moments of complicity and self-improvement, bind you together in a very special way and fill your memory with unforgettable moments. I never feel alone in my challenge which is why, for this project, I needed the person whom I trusted the most, my partner Jim Zimmerman.
Climbing as a twosome is the best therapy you can hope for! When faced with difficulties, you have to learn to communicate, to express your thoughts clearly but constructively. Perched 500 meters up, you can’t just yell at your partner or stop talking to them. You have to find a solution together to overcome the obstacles and reach the summit.Â
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During our first climbs on Fly, every movement was extremely difficult, and I was as close to linking them together as I was to going to a unicorn parade one day. But day by day, our technique improved, we began to master the movements until we were ready to start a full attempt.Â
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After beginning to climb at 6.30 a.m. the first day we had climbed the first 16 pitches (mainly between 7b and 7c+) as well as the 17th pitch (8b) just before nightfall! Our plan was to sleep on a portaledge and then to climb the last 3 pitches, which were the most difficult, on the second day.Â
When I woke up, my exhausted body begged me to give up. Doubt settled in. For one moment, I felt the urge to give up. But Jim found the words to support me and to give me the strength to give it my all. I attempted the crux for the first time (19th pitch 8c) and I fell at the first difficult section. No panic, I still had a little strength for a final attempt. I went into my bubble for an hour’s rest and got rid of the pressure pressing down on me and regained my confidence. When I started that pitch again, as soon as I made the very first movements, the fear vanished. It was just the wall and me. I passed the first crux but I could feel my arms about to explode. I carried on, battling the urge to let go with each movement, shaking out my arms after each grip. I found myself at the last crux, a few meters from the belay. My belief in it was so strong, I felt Jim’s words of encouragement, I gave it all I had left… And I fell, one quickdraw from the belay. The disappointment and frustration at having come so close to my goal, but failing, was immense. The following weeks, rain poured down on Switzerland, leaving me no opportunity to try again.Â
When climbing feels like flying.
When climbing feels like flying.
I feel I have to accept the possibility that I will not be able to accomplish my project this year. Maybe I never will? When I step out of my comfort zone and set off on an “impossible” challenge, the fear of failure sometimes makes me lose the confidence I have in my abilities, a feeling of vulnerability makes me question the meaning of what I am doing. Why invest so much time and energy and end up not “bringing home the trophy”? This little voice worms its way into my mind: Have I set my sights too high? Do I have sufficient resources?
Embarking on a difficult project is a sometimes complicated process that pushes you into exploring your emotions. The way I manage this pressure is to bear in mind that, in the end, climbing or not, I do this because climbing makes me happy. And then the magic of a project, the true challenge, is when you’re not sure if you can do it in advance, when it even seems impossible at first. This path has taught me to cope with the frustration of not always achieving my goal quickly and to keep my self-confidence. The success of this project is above all, that I have been challenged, have strengthened the bond with my partner through incredible memories, and I have thoroughly enjoyed myself. So I’ll be back! Â
A big thank you to my partner Jim. Without him, nothing would have been possible. To Nicolas Falquet for climbing meters and meters to capture our adventures, to my sponsors and to the openers of these 3 exceptional routes (Roger Schäli, Michel Pitelka, Markus Iff, Bernd Rathmayr, Mäx Grossman, Stephan Eder et Matthias Trottmann).Â