Last saturday, Seb Bouin made the ascent of Bibliographie (5.15c) at Céüse, joining the very select club of climbers to have climbed this route.
After DNA (5.15d) on April 24, 2022 in the Verdon and Supreme Jumbo Love (5.15c), America’s most difficult climb, on November 1, Sébastien Bouin successfully managed Bibliographie, a 35-metre route in the Biographie sector of Céüse.
“Bibliograpghie was a big goal for this year. Since Alex did the first ascent of this one, I was really psyched to try something really hard from someone else, here in France.”
a 9b+ in my ‘local’ area, already with 3 ascents by top climbers… it was obvious that I had to try it
In 2020, the German climber was the first to successfully climb this route in the Biographie sector, proposing a 5.15d rating at the time. But the following year, the Italian Stefano Ghisolfi and the American Sean Bailey, after repeating the climb, lowered the grade to 5.15c.
“I am usually alone when trying my projects in France and not many people try them, but Biblio was something different. You know, a 9b+ in my ‘local’ area, already with 3 ascents by top climbers… it was obvious that I had to try it.”
Seb Bouin in the Bibliographie route at Céüse. Photo by Clarisse Bompard
I think I underestimated this last part of the route. It doesn’t look or feel that hard when you do this single section in isolation. Yet, when you are coming from the ground, it was way different
With rain almost every day, the 30-year-old Dracénois had to wait for lulls before each of his attempts, including 11 falls below the summit after the main crux.
“I think I underestimated this last part of the route. It doesn’t look or feel that hard when you do this single section in isolation. Yet, when you are coming from the ground, it was way different. I remember Sean Bailey actually fell 13 times up there, so I am happy that he still holds the record”