American climber Alex Honnold added a new big wall climb in Mexico’s Baja California, making the first free ascent of El Giraffe on El Gran Trono Blanco. Honnold, and Paul McSorley, traveled to Mexico in late January to attempt El Gran Trono Blanco’s 1,200-foot east face. The climbers spent two-and-a-half days equipping and working a free variation on the climb, El Giraffe Libre (5.13), before Honnold led the entire line. Photographer Andrew Burr, who witnessed the ascent, told Climbing that he doubted the route would ever be downgraded. “It was mega-hot, and watching Alex negotiate the roof and heinously thin slab traverses in the heat was some of the most impressive leading either myself or Stanhope has ever witnessed,” he said.
Read more at