Historic Second Ascent

Italian climber Pietro Vidi completed the second ascent of Drifter’s Escape, the world’s hardest trad climb (5.15a) in Squamish, British Columbia.

“the impossible is becoming possible”

First Ascent Details

Connor Herson first climbed Drifter’s Escape on July 24, 2025, after keeping the send secret for seven months until releasing a documentary.

Drifter’s Escape Difficulty

Drifter’s Escape features two V11 cruxes and is technically a mixed climb with two bolts at the beginning, but traditional gear protects the rest of the route.

Climber Ethan Salvo’s View

Ethan Salvo, who projected the route with both Herson and Vidi, said the difficulty comes from 'how punchy the whole upper half is.'

“how punchy the whole upper half is”

Connor Herson’s Pogo Move

Herson famously tackled the first V11 boulder problem using a 'pogo', swinging out with his right leg to generate momentum.

“pogo”

Pietro Vidi’s Approach

Vidi had completely different beta than Herson, focusing on a more powerful and quicker style with fewer moves.

Vidi’s Rack for Send

Vidi used a rack of brass nut 4, a #.3, three #.2s, two .2/.3s, and two .1/.2s for his send on October 12, 2.026.

Shoe Choice for Drifter’s

Vidi wore Scarpa Blackbirds for their narrow fit and stiffness, ideal for edging in thin pods.

Vidi’s Time Investment

Vidi spent about 15 sessions trying Drifter’s Escape, with 10 lead tries, before sending it on October 12, 2026.

Vidi’s View on Trad Limits

Vidi believes trad climbing is 'very, very, very far' from the limit, with huge potential for progression but few hard trad lines available.

“very very very far”

Vidi’s Future Outlook

Vidi thinks newer generations will find more hard trad lines, pushing the sport’s limits despite the rarity of such routes.