Five Ten 2016 | Sonnie Trotter | First free ascent of Ewbank Route on Tasmania's Totem Pole

In January of 2009, after a 9-month battle (and 30 years since the First Aid Ascent) 'The Ewbank Route' on the iconic Totem Pole saw all 4 of its original pitches climbed free by two local talents, Doug McConnel, and Dean Rollins.
The Tasmanian classic went at 27 (or 5.12d in Yosemite terms), and Planet Mountain wrote: "the two climbers were the first to point out that their style could be greatly improved upon as they freed the individual pitches over separate days, and pitches 2 and 3 were separated by a hanging belay. Those aspiring to climb the line in a single push should be aware that the route takes fiddly gear, is run-out, and solid for the grade. Any takers?"
Well as it turns out, this description is exactly what appealed to our athlete's Sonnie Trotter and Will Stanhope. Both climbers are well known for seeking out beautiful and spicy lines around the world and "The Tote" (as it's often called) would be no exception. Watch, as these two climbers explore this rugged peninsula and Trotter takes down the nearly 200-foot pencil like pillar via the Ewbank Route, 5.13b R.

[@patelnirajkumar1]

Bro that is amazing. I love it. I don't think I could but I will get inspire from this.

[@JedlyMT]

Nicely done Mr. Trotter!!! Inspiration. I love spindly towers. There's just something about standing on top of a tower that excites and looks super rad.

[@ManitheMonkey]

Wow. Looks Like a supercool climb in a paradisiac environment!

[@lardtaziumwadmaster]

hi mani

[@davepassaro7133]

@@lardtaziumwadmaster oh hi mani

[@bjaminbjamin]

great vid, footage, insight, angles and climbing. Great job local boys Will and Sonnie

[@Truckson777]

Saw this at the Banff Mountain Film Festival Radical Reels, AWESOME!

[@bearcammedia]

Songs!
Jack Roll - The Beat of the Land
Living Pulse - The Chapman Run
Perfect Muse - Black Goldie

[@heimbone1]

Awesome!

[@mathewfarrell1908]

Great shooting Cama

[@michaelpaul2CMTB]

Pretty Amazing!! :)

[@AlabamaTree]

Respect ✌🏻

[@janosik502]

awesome

[@pablomolina3264]

bravo

[@pvtpierce14]

What an incredible line. Absolutely beautiful.
Question though, what's the song playing while Sonnie is climbing?

[@sethcornell1273]

Bang My Head (club killers remix radio edit)

[@pvtpierce14]

I wish it were so but it's not. Shazam let me down so hard on this one. Must either be original music or some super obscure song.

[@bearcammedia]

see above

[@ImpactoManiaOficial]

What are the songs used in the video ?
Quais são as musicas utilizadas no video ?

[@bearcammedia]

see above

[@ultimateadventurefishinghu8605]

Mad

[@alexgallico]

RAD!!!!!!!

[@williamnicolas122]

Music when Sonnie is climbing ?

[@bearcammedia]

see above

[@chasebowman6631]

Why is the video titled first free ascent.. when its not a FFA?

[@arneboveng3756]

Elaborate please. Pre-placed gear? Someone else already did it free? Weighting the rope?

[@omidj]

It's the first ascent in a single 60 m pitch. The 2009 ascent was over multiple days and multiple pitches.

[@brandonamos6622]

boss hog!

[@nathankenny7454]

Definitely can’t claim first free ascent.

[@andyburch1819]

Im willing to bet a framed picture of this is hanging in his house somewhere

[@wellziesworld2948]

This is a great video marred by one thing. All they did was not belay halfway. They just linked two pitches. Doug did the first free ascent. Thats like me just going down to any local multipitch, linking them, then claiming some kinda first. Total wankfest, regardless of climbers ability. Thumbs down from me.