The list of noteworthy female free solos in history is remarkably short. That’s not entirely surprising since study after study demonstrates that men take more risks than women. While the list of men who have free soloed routes of 5.11 and up is quite long, we could find only three women who have climbed that grade or higher without a rope. Now, a fourth woman has joined the list.
On May 3, Aleksandra “Ola” Taistra made a ropeless ascent of Alfredo Alfredo (7a/5.11d), a limestone line up Monte Oddeu on the island of Sardinia where she lives. Not only is this one of the hardest known free solos by a woman, but it’s also rather committing: 200 meters (656 feet) of climbing over six pitches, which Taistra linked into one long push.

“Whenever I push into a new grade or face an intense challenge, I don’t panic or freak out,” Taistra told Climbing. “Instead, my focus becomes incredibly sharp. In those moments, nothing exists. I accept the next move. Alfredo Alfredo, I would say, was pretty much the same …I completely jumped into it and enjoyed it very much.”