On June 24 and 25, 2025, Belgian climber Siebe Vanhee accomplished a significant milestone in the climbing community by executing the first rope solo ascent of the renowned 'Voie Petit' on Grand Capucin, towering at 3,838 meters in the Mont Blanc massif of France. This impressive 450-meter route was initially established in 1997 by Arnaud Petit, Stéphanie Bodet, Pascal Gaudin, and Jean-Paul Petit, and later freed by Alexander Huber in 2005 at a challenging difficulty level of 8a+/8b.
Reflecting on his remarkable achievement, Vanhee shared, "Climbing lead rope-solo has been a little side activity of mine in the last two years. I love the logistical and tactical challenge of managing rope systems, with the aim of climbing as freely and safely as possible, on my own."
For Vanhee, climbing has always been about connection and shared experiences. He noted, "I’ve always been a climber and person who loves to share experiences with others. I like to solve problems together on a wall and share energy to push each other towards personal successes. But in the last years I’ve been intrigued by climbing on my own and want to challenge myself to be intrinsically motivated, solve problems on my own and see where I’m at, independently on a wall."
This deepening interest in solo climbing has prompted him to pursue self-discovery through the sport. “Decisions have to be made on your own; you are obliged to be connected to yourself, your motivation, discipline and fears,” he explained. “Lead rope-soloing hard multi-pitch climbs is just another way to get to know myself better and learn about myself, from climbing.”
Vanhee's ascents in recent years include several demanding multi-pitch routes such as "Une Jolie Fleur dans un Peau de Vache" (8b, 300m), "Take it or Leave it" (8a, 110m), "El Pilar del Cantábrico" (8a+, 500m), and "Dame Cookie" (8a+, 160m). He admitted, "I have never consistently worked my LRS skills, but I felt ready for a bigger adventure."
In 2024, he set his sights on a new challenge: a larger rope solo freeclimbing project. Describing his choice, he said, “Voie Petit (450m) is one of the mythical hard multi-pitches in the Alps and has a reputation for being challenging, both because of the consistent hard climbing and the altitude of the route. Because I wanted adventure and also to push myself, I aimed to climb Voie Petit LRS in a day, ground-up.”
The importance of preparation was key to Vanhee's ascent; he packed a light sleeping bag, extra food, and a stove to melt snow on the ledge after pitch 7, demonstrating his foresight that “you never know!”
Setting off on his adventure on July 24, from his tent pitched at Combe Maudite, Vanhee was filled with excitement. However, as he traversed the mountain, he quickly recognized the complexities of the climb. “Very quickly I realised that this was going to be a very different challenge to the many limestone multi-pitches I had previously rope-soloed,” he reflected.
The climbs were intricate, crossing various roofs and requiring extensive hauling of his gear. He commented, “Often, I had to haul two to three times in one pitch, off a bolt and then on to the next.” This intensive labor was part of navigating the climbing route’s unique demands, something that added layers of difficulty to the experience.
Siebe Vanhee's ascent of 'Voie Petit' not only speaks to his personal achievements but also highlights the ongoing evolution and challenges of climbing in the Alps. This historic first marks a significant achievement in the climbing world, showcasing the blend of skill, innovation, and the profound allure of solo climbing that continues to captivate athletes and enthusiasts alike.