When Difficulty Meets Beauty
This trip to Croatia turned out to be the perfect definition of the climbing spirit for me. These lines and these places breathe inspiration and passion. I never imagined that both the lifestyle and the climbing quality would be so exceptional.
I started the trip with no expectations, no idea what I would find. Step by step, I uncovered stunning and inspiring line. For me, this Croatian project became the centerpiece of the crag—cutting through the steepest, most beautiful section of the wall, with unique and unusual movements.
It demanded far more from me than I initially thought. But what an incredible experience, surrounded by the amazing vibe of the island. Without a doubt, this climb stands as one of my proudest additions, entering straight into my personal top five 9b / 5.15b routes worldwide.
The route begins with sustained climbing of around 8c+. It then rises into a powerful crux sequence that pushes the grade up to 9a. At the heart of the line comes its defining feature — a wild 360° rotation, a spectacular boulder problem of about 8A / V11 that requires body control in an improbable position. Even after that, the fight is not over. The climb finishes with a demanding 8b+/c section, where I even fell once on a send attempt.
Mentally, it became tough. The heat was brutal at times, and I started to feel drained. Falling on the final jug left me thinking about giving up altogether. But then a cool north wind rolled in, giving me just enough fire to push through and finish the job.
I want to thank everyone who made this possible—from the local climbers and community to the friends who shared the days with me.
A Second Gift—The White Snake
During a rest day, I also had the chance to bolt and bring to life another king line deep in the Stiniva cave: The White Snake. From the very beginning, I felt it could be something special … and it turned out to be a true beauty.
Fifty degrees overhanging, 20 meters long, with perfect pinches all the way—The White Snake slithers through one of the steepest parts of the cave.
It felt like a race against the clock to send it before leaving. On the last day, on my very last go, after a wild, all-out fight, I finally clipped the chains.
A truly memorable way to close this beautiful chapter on Hvar Island.
--Seb Bouin
