This video documents an ambitious solo climbing endeavor on the "Little Big Wall of Norway," a 400-meter, notoriously difficult granite face in the far north. The climber set an unprecedented goal: to achieve an all-free solo ascent in under 24 hours. The narrative follows his meticulous gear preparation, the initial challenges of finding the approach trail, and the physical and mental demands of the "rope soloing" technique, which involves repeatedly climbing, abseiling to retrieve gear, and re-ascending each pitch. Despite significant route-finding difficulties on tough pitches, equipment snags (like a forgotten GoPro pin), and the onset of extreme thirst, the climber successfully completed the formidable route in a remarkable 8 hours and 40 minutes, well within his demanding self-imposed deadline.
A Solo Ascent of the "Little Big Wall of Norway": Free Climbing in Under 24 Hours
0:00 - Introduction to the "Little Big Wall": The video introduces the "Little Big Wall of Norway," a 400-meter, highly difficult rock face known for its challenging lines and previous notable solo ascents.
0:29 - Ambitious Goal Set: The climber announces his objective to complete an all-free solo ascent of the wall in under 24 hours, aiming to combine two feats never before achieved simultaneously on this route.
0:55 - Extensive Gear Preparation: The climber details his equipment, including a Sterling rope (a long-time sponsor), spare clothes, a helmet, crampons for a snowy patch, a full rack of climbing gear, a solo belay system, and essential items like a knife and toilet paper.
3:12 - Pre-Climb Nerves & Midnight Sun: The climber expresses pre-climb nervousness and the need to trust his abilities. He notes the advantage of the midnight sun, providing continuous daylight for the north-facing wall, despite it being nighttime.
4:01 - Challenging Approach & Insects: The approach proves difficult as the climber struggles to find the established trail, resorting to bushwhacking before eventually locating it. He also battles numerous annoying flies throughout the approach.
8:50 - GoPro Malfunction & Snow Crossing: A critical "major error" occurs when the climber realizes he forgot the pin to secure his GoPro, improvising with tape and worrying about losing footage. He is thankful for the crampons during a steep snow slope crossing at the wall's base.
11:06 - Beginning the Climb & Rope Soloing Technique: The climbing commences, demonstrating the arduous "rope soloing" method: climbing a pitch, then abseiling back down to retrieve gear and the rope, and finally "jugging" (ascending the rope) back to the high point to continue.
12:51 - Difficult First Pitch: The first pitch is unexpectedly tough, requiring 20 minutes of deliberation and multiple attempts due to route uncertainty and loose rock, serving as a "harsh step back" into the demanding technique.
18:11 - Crux Pitch & Growing Thirst: Pitch 2 goes more smoothly, but Pitch 3 is identified as the "crux," described as "pumpy" and steep. The climber increasingly notes his thirst, emphasizing the critical need for more water than anticipated on such a demanding climb.
25:05 - Long Pitches & Fatigue: Pitch 4 is a demanding 55-meter section, ranking as the second hardest. The climber battles forearm fatigue and the effects of climbing through the early morning hours (3-4 AM). A GoPro battery failure on this pitch leads to no recorded footage.
27:49 - Trade-offs of Rope Soloing: The climber acknowledges the benefit of no rope drag in rope soloing but states that "everything else is a pain in the ass," particularly the repetitive process and counter-intuitive route choices ("always go for the dirt").
37:57 - Successful Summit: The climber successfully tops out, completing the entire route in an impressive 8 hours and 40 minutes, comfortably achieving his sub-24-hour goal.
38:48 - Post-Climb Relief & Key Takeaways: The video concludes with the immense relief of finding water and receiving a surprise offer for a lift down. The climber reinforces key lessons: always bring a knife and significantly more water than you think you'll need for solo climbs.