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Chris Sharma is projecting a new climbing<\/a> route\u00a0just beyond the dam that marks the end of Congost de Mont-Rebei\u2014a gorge along the Noguera Ribagorzana River, between Arag\u00f3n and Catalonia, in Spain\u2014that even he\u2019s not sure he can complete. If he does, it could be the hardest in the world.<\/p>\n Among the route\u2019s rigors is a set of caves with a long, sloped ceiling (at least 60 degrees, more than 60 meters long). The backdrop is impossibly idyllic: Greenery and wildflowers crown the small river beyond the dam, and the warbling song of swallows reverberates off the limestone walls.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Hanging 40 meters off the ground, Barcelona photographer Helena Clancy<\/a> captured Sharma on the final movement needed to clear the \u201cinfinite wall\u201d on a Canon EOS R5. The shot is actually a composition of five images, she says, stitched together to showcase the full breadth of the landscape.<\/p>\n To get her vantage point, she climbed six meters, then launched herself into the air to jumar the remaining distance with an ascender (hand-held clamp).<\/p>\n \u201cClimbing is a very personal and intimate sport,\u201d she says. \u201cWhen I\u2019m hooked up there, I feel like the climber shares their nerves and power with me. Being able to feel their adrenaline at the same time I try to transmit the least amount of disturbance to capture those emotions is mind-blowing.\u201d<\/p>\n Clancy also worked with Sharma during his ascent of Mallorca\u2019s Black Pearl, considered the hardest deep-water solo route<\/a>.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n \u201cI truly believe he\u2019s capable of making this new ascent in the near future. This route promises to be a huge new step in [his] climbing legacy.\u201d<\/p>\n