Carole didn’t stop there, and before 2015 was over she had climbed her first 8c+, the imposing 50m arête, La Rubia, in Villanueva del Rosario, Spain.
“[La Rubia] made its mark on me because I don’t know if I will ever be able to climb another route as beautiful!” says Carole. “I fell in love with this 50m diagonal journey through grey and orange tufas in the Chilam Balam cave. This was my first 8c+ and it look me 15 days of hard work to finally clip the chains.”
In June 2016 she made two more 8c ascents: Sex After Climb in Otiñar, Spain and La Pas Si Sage Femme at Ramirole in France. A few years later, in January 2019 came another, Guère d’Usure at Claret, France.
But don’t be fooled, the intervening years were not without considerable success, as Carole climbed a number of eighth-grade routes, including—but not limited to!—C.T.N. (8b) in Buoux, Lou Merzeou (8b+) at La Saume, Twin Power (8b+) in Ramirole and Transworld Depravity (8b+) in the Red River Gorge.
“My personal investment in my own progression is focused on regular outdoor sport climbing rather than a vigorous training regime,” says Carole. “I am always on the look out for good energy and I try to give everything I’ve got every time I climb. Overcoming both my physical and mental limits is for me the best way to progress, both physically and technically. I do not impose any barriers on my projects - If I like the look of a route, I'll put quickdraws on it!”
After 15 years of climbing Carole is now focused on sharing her experience with others and in promoting good preservation ethics at crags. She is currently the principal editor and president of Greenspits.
Greenspits, a charitable organisation created in 2015, is focussed on the preservation of climbing sites by addressing environmental and access issues and promoting responsible use of climbing areas. The organisation does this through events, including conferences, workshops, clean-up days, re-bolting efforts, crag-maintenance programs, and by creating videos promoting good practice at crags.
“I have always been involved in the development of our sport because I realise that the continuity and popularity of climbing in the natural environment is due to the investment of climbers who go above and beyond the usual patterns of simple consumption,” says Carole.