Uploaded July 2023 | Updated September 2026, 3 days ago
Full film streaming on Reel Rock Unlimited here: watch.reelrocktour.com/browse
Didier Berthod was one of the world’s best crack climbers in the early 2000s, with first ascents of iconic lines like Greenspit, Learning to Fly, and From Switzerland with Love. His legendary battle with the Cobra Crack project, in Squamish, was featured in our 2006 film First Ascent. He walked away empty handed, local crusher Sonnie Trotter snagged the FA, and Didier disappeared from the climbing scene, joining a monastery in Switzerland and living as a monk for the next decade.
But he’s back! At 41 years old, Didier returned to Squamish and made the first ascent of a spectacular finger crack near the top of The Chief. He calls it the hardest and most beautiful crack he’s ever done - The Crack of Destiny, mid-5.14. Soon after that he jumped back on Cobra Crack to settle the score, but took a nasty fall and broke his wrist. Heal up quick Didier! The saga continues…
Footage of Cobra Crack from our film First Ascent, streaming for subscribers on #ReelRockUnlimited. #climbing #rockclimbing #crackclimbing #cobracrack #squamish #tradclimbing #monounderclingfingerlock #whipper #sendit #firstascent #shorts
Full film streaming on Reel Rock Unlimited here: watch.reelrocktour.com/browse
Didier Berthod was one of the world’s best crack climbers in the early 2000s, with first ascents of iconic lines like Greenspit, Learning to Fly, and From Switzerland with Love. His legendary battle with the Cobra Crack project, in Squamish, was featured in our 2006 film First Ascent. He walked away empty handed, local crusher Sonnie Trotter snagged the FA, and Didier disappeared from the climbing scene, joining a monastery in Switzerland and living as a monk for the next decade.
But he’s back! At 41 years old, Didier returned to Squamish and made the first ascent of a spectacular finger crack near the top of The Chief. He calls it the hardest and most beautiful crack he’s ever done - The Crack of Destiny, mid-5.14. Soon after that he jumped back on Cobra Crack to settle the score, but took a nasty fall and broke his wrist. Heal up quick Didier! The saga continues…
Footage of Cobra Crack from our film First Ascent, streaming for subscribers on #ReelRockUnlimited. #climbing #rockclimbing #crackclimbing #cobracrack #squamish #tradclimbing #monounderclingfingerlock #whipper #sendit #firstascent #shorts
