The North Face Presents: "Return of the Sleepwalker" (9A/v17) (First Ascent)

[@EvolvWorldwide]

Check the description of this video for a little present from us 😏

[@huhnesser]

snagged myself two pair of phantoms a couple of days ago😭😂

[@bloctribe]

Without doubt the best bouldering shoe ever made...I wish you made these 10-12 years ago when I was young enough to beat my body up! 😂🤣

[@yScribblezHD]

Yall are tempting me. Can I assume that all Evolv shoes size the same? I have a pair of oracles but am looking for a new shoe.

[@alexchurch7642]

@@yScribblezHD I’ve had both phantoms and oracles, and they size pretty similarly, though the oracles will stretch much more than the phantoms with time.

[@EvolvWorldwide]

@@yScribblezHD we do our best to keep our sizing as similar as possible between models, however, we do make shoes in all sorts of different shapes to try and account for the wide variety of footshapes that are out there. It is entirely possible that your particular foot-shape will fit better in one shoe than another and thus, you could be a different size. That being said I would start with your Oracle size and adjust as necessary.

[@assassinwalker3]

The insane amount of emotion released after each incredibly disappointing failure to send, then little to nothing after actually sending it... Most climber-like thing I've seen

[@assaqwwq]

love that its called "mellow" too :D I mean I get it, everyone at that lvl is a perfectionist, but for people who aren't, just have fun with it. Also, hes friends acted as emotional support and given him perspective, which is really nice.

[@climbingbeanchomper]

after sending a several year long project im sure alot of what he felt afterwards was relief

[@zacharylowman4034]

@@climbingbeanchomperno joke, ive only projected one climb it was at seneca rocks in WV. Took me 3 summers of failing but finally got it last summer and of course i was excited but relief was definitely the prominent emotion and we’re talking a 5.10 lead route so not even in the same universe as what this man just did.

[@cheechunlimited]

sounds like speedrunning haha

[@frenchbaguette2856]

16:18 The shaking leg. That moment when you know you've just achieved the impossible and that there's only one last move left to make. Congratulations Daniel!

[@samlfarrar]

Elvis leg is a real condition

[@LeonxLeon]

He spent that much time on it just to be sure he wore every Mellow merch available for the vid

[@jakobelkholtei1425]

*not available

[@RanMrKris]

D woods: Writing bouldering history Also D Woods: Chalking up for the upper slab part

[@nathannguyen2381]

I don't know a single person who'd do slab without chalk lol

[@lcart1064]

The adrenaline dump after that send would make anybody's hands into waterfalls haha

[@RanMrKris]

@@lcart1064 haha yeah for sure

[@RanMrKris]

@@nathannguyen2381 true

[@adamstackable7336]

​@@syindrome The upper holds prob don't have as much chalk,.. And his fingers would run out of chalk as the problem progresses,.. And just because it turns to slab or vert doesn't mean it's easy, and some holds on slab are friction dependent so if you have an inkling of moisture or loose material on your shoes or fingertips the grade goes from v2 to v10 or some sh$t.

[@JonPMelly]

A completely new look at the climbing film, skateboard metal vibes.... classic undeniable

[@chadbeckelhymer8288]

You need to watch the old school rampage dvd, the whole vid has this vib….bout time they made a flick like that again, enough with the lame documentary style with cuts to have the climber talk about some dumb shit

[@michaeljustinmoynihan]

Agreed with the other reply to your comment. Every old climbing video was like this.

[@stephenr80]

mellow has been doing good stuff for a while now, in the first sequence they already had me, whoever isbehind this stuff should be doing movies

[@MgCO3climbing]

Jon Glassberg being a bro on camera duty at the end! So perfect! Imagine if we didn't get to see Daniel up at the top at that moment. Made the video that much more epic.

[@colehibbard2851]

Gonna wait till after work to watch this so I can scream COME ON DANIEL at my screen

[@Constantine769]

Same. "Let's faaacking goooh!"

[@westonzor]

i did. much worth

[@lonesome3958]

ALLEZ

[@Mdjagg]

Halfway through and I already know, this is the greatest skate video ever produced! Nah, for real though, I love this style. Thanks for not showing us 10mins of hiking in and the butterflys flying off of a dandelion in slow-mo. Thank you! This video is amazing!

[@schneeekind]

Hahaha yea I thought of skatevideo productions as well

[@matthewlarson7207]

In my mind Daniel is like the Leo Romero of rock climbing.

[@PaulHobbs23]

I like butterflies flying off a dandelion in slow-mo tho

[@gianmartial]

It’s missing the parts where he breaks the boards 😂

[@Mdjagg]

Nah, he definitely breaks the boards!

[@diegosebastian2226]

I have no idea how many times I've seen this. Lots and lots. Love it every time, one of the greatest climbing vids to really psyche yourself up.

[@BadWaterBouldering]

"How'd it feel?" "Hard." Amazing work Daniel, you are an inspiration.

[@buckhum55]

Daniel Woods: Immaculate wordsmith. A true poet.

[@MF-CLIMB]

Finally here...very small number of ‘Dudes’ on the dude counter for my liking in a Mellow video...but what a beast Daniel is though!

[@Ever3lackSky]

I had the 69th like on this comment ;)

[@TheQuicksilver115]

Holy crap, this second half of just full attempts that he misses on the last move, so crushing. The anguish in his screams when he gets so close only to fall again...damn that hits hard. Haven't seen to the end yet, super excited for the send! This is an incredible feat, Daniel is such a fucking monster

[@KOLBENPFIEL]

Had to try hard to resist the urge to watch this instantly while driving

[@FISHD0G747]

I felt like 3 months was forever but now that it’s here I’m actually impressed how fast it came out for how great it is

[@sweatfootm]

Climbing movies used to come out once a year and you had to buy the VHS or DVD or be lucky to live in an area that had a one time viewing in the theater so...ya, just relax and be patient. We live in the age of free and almost immediate content. Enjoy it.

[@LuisOrtega-ue1vp]

THE TIME HAS COME

[@lixtaressoc8683]

It has, Sigmav, whether you want it or not.

[@Deathranger999]

@@Sigmav0 Lots of people have been waiting for weeks for this video to come out. The send itself was announced a while ago.

[@Sigmav0]

@@Deathranger999 Oh ok thanks

[@Coleginter]

major props to Bobby Sorich for this fantastic editing. filming goes hand in hand with the climbing! absolute beasts!!

[@andreapaolino5905]

Still one of (if not THE) greatest bouldering videos ever made. Huge accomplishment, awesome story. Thanks Daniel 🙏🏻

[@hyboirds1536]

God damn that's a sick boulder! Awesome send! Thats crazy he sent it on an attempt where his foot slipped TWICE on the sloper section! Thats incredible, a little footslip on this incline was enough to end the attempt for him endless times before. So to fight thru two slips and still send, mad respect.

[@Sheldon_Steines]

Thrash metal edit is soooo fucking sick. Insane boulder too

[@JasonOgasian]

Wow, what a film. I feel like I felt all the emotions right there along with Daniel. There's almost a hypnotic quality to this. Thanks for sharing and congrats on the mega send!

[@amirulrazak7793]

When the man himself sending. Not a single Dudeeeeeee was given. The silence tells it all. Congrats Daniel on extreme dedication and mental game!

[@sweatfootm]

It was silent because I believe he was alone when he sent.

[@bennettstone3784]

16:26 Now he prepares for the real challenge

[@boulderfighters2590]

His performance and persistence is simply stunning and mind-blowing. And is a big motivation for everybody to really try fu***** hard when you have a goal you want to achieve!

[@2fast4me9]

One day I wanna be strong enough to pull off the ground from the starting holds.

[@alexbarcovsky4319]

I think thats like an 8A move in itself

[@Csherman04]

5:30 to 5:48. Never related more to feeling that defeated. Also made me laugh so hard when he just goes, "I feel fucked"

[@aranna_]

that sloper move is heinous...congrats on the send woods! you earned it

[@danielhavlat6461]

Absolute beast 💪 I was lucky enough to be able to check this boulder out a few months ago after Daniel sent. The slopers are even worse than they look in this video, and the last move to get the toehook is absolutely bonkers. Great send, can't wait to see whats next

[@namuhtsuj4025]

I love the anger he shows. I feel like a lot of climbers have dialed into this “always chill” temperament that’s kind of boring to me. I vividly remember being livid when I climbed and learning to channel that anger into precision and determination. The anger he shows here makes the struggle against the stone feel realistic and human. Huge send for Daniel, keep what your doing dawg.

[@sebastian-ez1dj]

janja has this fire, i feel that’s what separates her from the others

[@plwadodveeefdv]

@@sebastian-ez1dj why's shawn so much better than daniel then? 🤔

[@craigbritton1089]

For those making fun of Daniel wanting his chalk bags; I guess you have never been so worked and adrenalized that everything seems steep When the fight/ flight/ freeze system is done with the fight: your body wants to go to flight or freeze. He gave 100; percent to fight to top the crux; so his emotional mind was not in a state to say low angle slab is easy.

[@Ever3lackSky]

All I want to know is who are the sad, pathetic people thumbs-downing this video?! Seriously though, unbelievable send, and a fantastically put together video of the process!

[@95Mrpaquito]

That was a fantastic choice of soundtrack, it got me hooked up all through the video. the tension it built was great. To the point that I decided to wait until I got home to watch it so as not to have to cut the video in half because of work.

[@MPHshoots]

Do you know what song is at 15:10

[@kall3nat0r]

Here before this has a million views.

[@totheair247]

FINALLLYYYY, thanks so much to everyone's hard work to get this video out, most especially Daniel

[@REELROCK1]

Sick! Congrats Daniel, epic effort and great vid.

[@sirhenrystalwart8303]

mellow > reel rock any day of the week. You guys are killing it!

[@runforrest86]

So unreal! AMAZING work Daniel. Pleasure to watch your journey dude. Mind blowing.

[@petersotherland9230]

Reminds me of Jason Kehl’s Evilution video. Such a good job on the video and a sick send!

[@trulslarsen9820]

Fantastic video! Loved the ol'school slow'mo sound and the heavy metal which melted beautifully with the cinematography! Full circle with the classic 90's hard-core climbing movies like "Masters of stone". Cheers to Bobby Sorich! Oh and congrats to D.Webb for the magnificent FA ;-)

[@marretlineberry6979]

Daniel Woods? More like Daniel Rocks!

[@ac311205]

Underrated comment

[@DavidMartinBouldering]

HISTORIC ASCENT. Congrats man 🔥💪

[@GregFeeneyPoker]

I'm sure I felt only a fraction of the emotion that Daniel felt at the end but it was still enough to give me the chills. Music slaps as always. Mellow vibes are the best vibes. Legendary send.

[@matthewontherocks]

Freaking mega, this is the PS5 christmas present of climbing movie drops

[@alexharvey5808]

This deserves more upvotes tbh

[@TryHardAthlete88]

Intro song: Electric Company - MP Shaw, Nick Andre

[@loveroos627]

This edit was exactly what it needed to be. Sick send, sick vibe, sick edit.

[@cinehastag4354]

What a joy this gave to my morning. The edit didn't betray the great expectations I've piled up in the last months.. history

[@jorgecrimps]

I literally watched the V16 and V17 videos back to back like three times already

[@ploglet]

Don’t remember wanting to see someone complete a problem as much as in that video. Amazing! I still remember seeing Daniel in the BRC with his Dad when he was just a little kid. So great to see his progression through all these years. Congrats Daniel.

[@Tac0caT0]

One of the more honest process videos about what it means to project, long term, and is relatable to all levels of people projecting things. Also hadn’t seen a second ascent as yet… even with Burden of Dreams and Alphane recent ascents. I hope this one hangs out a few years before it sees a repeat… let that shit marinate…

[@Stewbertgrant]

That pause after the send. He seems astonished it even happened. Bets on how long before we see a repeat?

[@test-cra]

at least 3

[@xxavior2012]

@@test-cra I’m guessing at least tree fiddy

[@test-cra]

@@xxavior2012 at least 3 time

[@matthewmurphy341]

How long did it take for Hypno to see one?

[@Tengukou]

@@matthewmurphy341 A long time, which is impressive since Hypnotized Minds is right off the road and guys like David Graham and Paul Robinson tried it for years. But Rustam Gelmanov managed to do Hypo in 3 sessions🤷🏻‍♂️

[@mathiassimmons1766]

Summary: 15 minutes of Daniel falling over and over on insanely difficult moves. At 15:07, DWoods sends ROTSW on his 52ND DAY. Insane commitment to a single problem. Congrats Daniel!

[@iliakolesnikov]

Best bouldering video ever) Watched several times

[@justingabriele3881]

this is the greatest thing to ever be created

[@Kletterszenecom]

the boundless will to climb the line by all the setbacks is impressive!!! Congrats Daniel!!

[@oliviercourtens5540]

That reaction though 52 days in "...cruised it 👌..."

[@saint5203]

I love the part where his foot catches the difficult move and then he grabs the top of the Boulder that he hasn't grabbed it before. You can tell in his mind he is like oh my God I did it. Your determination and motivation is very inspiring. I think the message areas don't quit. If you have a goal DONT QUIT!

[@briancarroll7139]

The wait for the footy was worth it! Good work Daniel!!

[@andrewmshuff]

Just ran across Jimmy Webb's original Sleepwalker climb video. Seen this video a couple of times and back for more. Love it. Intense and inspirational.

[@limjunekiat]

What a beast of a problem and what a palm-sweating fight. Jeez, that's insane! Way to go, Daniel!

[@ashcroftttt]

Pure sickness!!! The power, the edit, the music, the shots - truly an art of work. Daniel's on fire for sure!

[@perrrrrtNESS]

Sick how the send was just D alone with the boulder. 🔥

[@EchelonIV]

Finally a climbing film with some proper music. Oh and good job on the V17 Daniel.

[@Pr0x1mo]

Do you know the name of the first song by any chance?

[@frelli177]

This is just sick all the way through. Congratulations 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏

[@AngelusNovusU]

Probably the best video so far in the channel. I was on the edge all the time.

[@DarthZealoT]

A sublime odyssey. Congrats Daniel. You’re the man💪🏼

[@vincechin3417]

Wow, fantastic send! The mental roller coaster of working at your limit was great to see.

[@dp1381]

Superb work all around! Fantastic climbing, filming, editing, and music selections. Mellow is making the best climbing content right now, hands down.

[@alcupone6462]

So sick! Love the edit, raw climbing, no storytelling bs, just try hard. Congrats on the send!

[@faebyang2526]

I just started climbing this year, currently only at a gym. But after finding this channel and all the awesome climbers, im really pumped to try out climbing on some real roc! Even though i know ill never reach this level of climbing, these videos still motivate me so much to go climb and get better every day! Fcking love this Sport

[@HarryZumwalt]

"We should have stuck around for five minutes.." LMAO

[@macd5953]

Best scream compilation on youtube.

[@anthonyboulais1476]

I wish there was some talk about the mental process/training throughout the vid. The send is sick though, as always.

[@juriberetta9868]

Actually I really appreciated the only climbing and madness kind of video. The mental process Woods went through was explained on his social account in the last months. Actually I really felt the struggle and obsession transparing from the videos immages. But I can understand your point of view.

[@ArielBiMBa]

Was missing for me as well. It was crazy to read so much about it on Instagram and then having none of it here. And as to what you said @Juri, that's true now but I don't think someone watching this video in 1 or 2 or 10 years is going to go the his social media posts from back then and get that much into the process. However there were and will probably be some interviews, written and filmed, which will be more accessible. So at least that. I would say that one sentence he wrote in the end of one of those posts, which really touched me, was something like "in the end I'm just trying to get up some fucking rock", and the end of this video, the actual seconds after that send, that quiet, when nobody is really around and it's just him, realizing what happened, really transfer a bit of the anti-climatic vibe that sentence had (Nalle touches the same subject in the "Burden of Dreams" video). So I really enjoyed that part of the video.

[@juriberetta9868]

@@ArielBiMBa I really loved the anti-climatic vibe of the send too. This was just so "normal", a piece of climbing history only witnessed by the eyes of a camera; no one around. The uselessness of the gesture, this is what makes climbing so freaking good. I'm reading RN a book about the climbing revolution in Italy (I'm italian) and the group of guys that made that believed in the uselessness of climbing, wich was the beauty about the discipline as they inteded it. They were ascending only multipitch or sport cliimbs, bouldering was not a thing. Today i think that bouldering is the extremization of that idea. I went a bit out of topic but this video made me, if possible, even more in love with climbing

[@danielfry8097]

@@juriberetta9868 alright plato

[@walterlotte4215]

@@danielfry8097 Dude.. You never get that? I often sit at the crack and chuckle about how stupid this whole thing is we are all so passionate about. And yet I return and give it my all. Without ever hesitating.

[@ConnerHawke]

Can we get a link to "Electric Company"? It's such a jam!

[@AhdomSayre]

bump!

[@NealMcQuaid]

is this the first track? anyone know the song?

[@elliot1498]

Bump

[@antoineleblevec4332]

bump

[@timurcarstensen5188]

Bump!!!

[@Nick-qy9hv]

Just finished hang boarding. Perfect timing

[@hoshvilson]

Wasn't planning on hangboarding tonight, but after watching this i think I should spend 3 hrs a day on 6 mm for the rest of my life

[@brendanhall5924]

this felt so old school. loved it!

[@michaelwagner6733]

This is just pure insanity!! But in the best possible way :D Awesome job!

[@oldi6btm6t9d4]

Did not disappoint. Was worth the wait.

[@SROribe]

The line between greatness and craziness is so so so thin.

[@loouis33]

Wow !! Incredible film and achievement. Huge concrats Daniel !!!

[@formfeelfn]

Absolutely incredible achievement. Persaverance and power. Huge congrats, Daniel.

[@asderamen]

CAMERA CREW: 2 Red cameras, sound guy DANIEL WOODS: Lets make it today and record me with the phone pls.

[@dancannaday4135]

Huge congrats to Daniel. That Boulder is so next level and a spectacular achievement. The video was a huge letdown. Music was good. Editing solid. But the most interesting storyline to follow was the growth and evolution of Daniel's facial hair. No explanation of the moves or the beta. No mention of Daniel's lifestyle changes. No idea how psych was maintained, waned, restored. Daniel's reaction standing on top of the last hold summed up the film. It was necessary to make some noise or say something, but it felt forced and emotionless. So much more was expected.

[@nickywoodward]

That was amazing and a super sick edit.

[@kennyprestwich3975]

I’ve waited so long for this video to come out. Stoked 🤘🏾

[@sweatfootm]

You mean like a few months? That's not terribly long at all.

[@chrominox]

That was fun to watch. Mad props to Daniel for sending this monster. Also, big shout-out to Bobby Sorich for an amazing edit.

[@JLongTom]

17:15 The perfect illustration of the inaneness of holding one's arms up to "protect" a climber.

[@plwadodveeefdv]

if they fall you can prevent death or paralysis. nothing inane about it

[@Jagknorr]

He looks like hes having so much fun!

[@stormferreira3010]

Congrats duude. Followed the whole thing, start to finish.

[@andreasschmidt6812]

holly SHIT ! what a battle, the film was epic. All worth it !!

[@dantelaw7759]

Incredible send, these next-level boulders are reaching new definitions of outrageous. But it always humours me seeing world-class athletes on these easy slab topouts, I don't know why 😅

[@JustinSendsIt]

If this doesn't motivate you on a Monday idk what will. Well put together!

[@py2706]

I can't progress thru new grades as fast as they create new grades! :( lol but great work D Woods!

[@DaleTurrell]

First 8C 2002, first 8C+ 2010, first 9A 2016.

[@MarkusSojakka]

My guess: First 9A+ in 2027

[@rowanferwerda4865]

@@MarkusSojakka i'd bet not before 2030

[@rowanferwerda4865]

@@MarkusSojakka it took 5 years for a second 9A boulder and only two, max four people (depending on what the big island assis wil settle at) have done a 9A so far. There was more traffic on the 8C+ grade in the first five years right? I feel like bouldering is getting closer to a human limit faster than route climbing. I can see a 9A+ boulder being done eventualy and maybe 9B a long time from now but past that, idk. Guess we'll have to wait and see

[@MarkusSojakka]

@@rowanferwerda4865 Or maybe die without seeing. But I am hoping that Sisu project will be climbed before I die.

[@mattmarcroft8931]

Mixing Daniel…honestly I don’t know how you didn’t go insane! I don’t think I have seen much more in the way of singular focus. Great achievement - well done!

[@harrisonvoorhees]

I haven't liked climbing videos in a long time. This one is fucking cool. Good job Bob. Epic send D!

[@jornjosiek6700]

What a beast and dope music in this edit!!!!!!

[@poopman18]

Great now I need to go buy a pair of evolv phantoms and go charge v3

[@mauritssier7459]

great job editing bobby!!!!

[@spaghetty94]

Dammmmm Daniel! Back at it again with the crazy send!

[@CoyoWyWy]

I like the part where he yells.

[@sibrilliant]

I hope another climbing video this incredible comes out again