Alex Megos Projecting B.I.G. 5.15d

Alex Megos recently finished up a trip to Flantanger, Norway. One of his main priorities for the trip was projecting B.I.G. 5.15d (9c). Originally bolted by Adam Ondra but freed by Jakob Schubert in 2023, the line is one of three 5.15d routes in the world. Megos had to deal with poor weather, wet rock, and bad skin on the route. He just released a 25-minute film about his experience projecting B.I.G., which you can watch below.

Despite the poor conditions, Megos still managed a few sends during his trip. He repeated Kangaroo’s Limb 5.15a, Iron Curtain 5.15a/b, and Komme seg i drift V13, and made the first ascent of Saint Javelin 5.14b. Adam Ondra made the first ascent of Iron Curtain in 2013, grading it 5.15b.  In 2022, Seb Bouin made the second ascent. Unlike Ondra, Bouin wore kneepads which he believed dropped the grade to 5.15a. Megos also sent the route with kneepads, but felt the route could potentially be 5.15a/b.

“At this point I think it should be mentioned how extraordinary Adam’s ascents were back in the day (especially the years 2012 and 2013), climbing all those lines without kneepads and grading some of them ‘only’ [5.15b],” said Megos after his Iron Curtain ascent on Instagram. “There are not many kneebars in Iron Curtain, but the one in the crux makes a huge difference and replaces the [V12] boulder (that Adam did) with a [V9/10] boulder. Coming from the ground this makes it significantly easier of course.

“Regarding the grade… I have no idea to be honest. It felt hard for [5.15a] (compared to the other routes in the cave) but definitely didn’t feel like [5.15b] with the kneepads. Hopefully this line will get more attention in the future and a consensus of the grade will form. In my eyes this is for sure one of the best routes I’ve gone in Flatanger. 4/5 stars. Can’t be 5 stars because it’s not in the Frankenjura (obviously).”

Alex Megos works B.I.G. 5.15d

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