| The Mandala | |
|---|---|
 The Mandala boulder | |
  Location of the route | |
| Location | Bishop, California |
| Coordinates | 37°17′40″N118°36′36″W / 37.29444°N 118.61000°W /37.29444; -118.61000[1] |
| Climbing area | The Buttermilks |
| Route type | Bouldering |
| Vertical gain | 6-metre (20 ft)[1][2] |
| Grade | V12 (8A+)[1][2] |
| First ascent | Chris Sharma, 2000 |
The Mandala is a 6-metre (20 ft) highgranitebouldering route inthe Buttermilks, a popular bouldering area nearBishop, California. Considered a "next generation" problem in the 1970s, the route was first solved by American climberChris Sharma in February 2000. It is one of the most widely known boulder problems in the world and is graded atV12 (8A+), and thesit start variation is graded atV14 (8B+).[3][4][5]
The Mandalabouldering problem climbs a steep overhanging prow on a large granite boulder that, for many decades, was considered too difficult and futuristic to solve; the boulder itself contains several notable bouldering routes includingPope's Prow at a grade ofV6 (7A).[6]
In 2008, Climbing magazine recounted a story from the 1970s whereJohn Bachar andRon Kauk reportedly joked that the line [then unnamed] would one day fall toJohn Gill's grandchildren, and describing it as a boulder that "to this day remains one of the most coveted and storied problems in American bouldering".[6]
It was first climbed byChris Sharma in February 2000.[4][7] Sharma's ascent received much acclaim in the climbing community, however, he did not assign the problem agrade.[8] The boulder was repeated by other climbers several months later in quick succession, the first being American boulder pioneerDave Graham,[4] the second was by Jared Roth, and the third repeat was by Swiss bouldering pioneerFred Nicole; and the consensus grade was settled atV12 (8A+).[9] Since the first ascent, several holds have broken, including one of the crux holds.[9][2] In 2002, Tony Lamiche completed the firstflash of the route.[4] In January 2008,Lisa Rands made the first female ascent,[4][6] and in 2011,Alex Johnson made the second female ascent.[8]
The Mandala became one of the most widely known boulder problems in the world,[4][10][11] and its notability means that even contemporary ascents of the boulder are often covered by the climbing media.[9][12][13]
In 2002, asit start (SDS) was added by Tony Lamiche, which is graded atV14 (8B+),[7][14] and is sometimes referred to asThe Mandaloin, orThe Mandala SDS.[15] In 2007, Jeff Silcox added a more intimidating direct finish (avoiding the left escape near the top of the prow), to createThe Mandala Direct, still gradedV12 (8A+).[15] Later in 2007,Paul Robinson, added the sit-down-start to Silcox's route, making the first ascent ofThe Mandala Direct Assis, gradedV14 (8B+).[15]
The Mandala has been ascended by:
First female free ascents (FFFA):