La Planta de Shiva 9b

A while ago I completed my hardest route so far with 'La Planta de Shiva'. I don't want to miss this success on my website and write now some words about it.

In October 2015 I came across 'La Planta de Shiva' and I understood immediately that I was passionate by that route. Finally, when in January 2016 Jakob Schubert did the second ascent and said that sending the route had been the fight of his life, I started to question whether I’d chosen the right route. So I decided to focus on climbing the second part only, because the extension is hard enough. I didn’t know what grade it would get, but it’s certainly a lot harder than anything I’ve ever climbed before. 

Joy and disappointment came along with me. On the one hand side I had to find alternative betas when two important holds broke off. On the other hand side, I suffered from an inflammation on my pulley and a partly ripped hamstring on my left thigh, which forced me to rest for several weeks. A point where I said to myself 'I want to follow this route not for every price!'.

But then, when I took on support from the ASP Red Bull Team I got confident again. They provided me with therapy and we reduced my climbing sessions to four times per week so that my body could recover best. When I was injury-free I finally returned to Spain in May this year. Conditions were good, as I failed shortly before the top while trying only the second section. But then, this October I finally completed the second section and knew it was time to start from the bottom. On 22 October a dream came true when I did the whole route.

The entire process taught me that if I was going to succeed I had to give absolutely 100%. I also knew that I needed someone by my side who would support me. I appreciate the unconditional support from two really important people, my husband and my father, who were the reason why I eventually succeeded. I also want to mention Adam who encouraged me to go for 'Planta de Shiva'.