In the first installment of Seb Bouin’s Vintage Rock Tour in which he revisits test pieces from climbing’s past, he toured Buoux, sport climbing’s original “laboratory.” Now, the French bone crusher drops into the Verdon, the grand canyon of Europe.

The Verdon is one of the best climbing areas in the world, and should be on everyone’s bucket list. I wrote a feature on the Verdon several years ago for National Geographic, republished here.

This video has some great history from absolute icons and legends. I particularly enjoyed hearing Jibe Tribout riff on the backstory behind Le Sepcialistes, one of the world’s first routes rated 8b+ (5.14a), and a preface for what we consider modern sport climbing.

Excellent piece, and got the stoke high! Keep these coming, Seb!