Slovenian climber Jernej Kruder has made the second ascent of Crown Royale, a 9a trad route at Jøssingfjord, Norway, originally established by Pete Whittaker in 2023.
The Route
Crown Royale is a 100-meter-long crack climb that combines hard jamming with technical face climbing. Whittaker described it as one of the hardest trad climbs he had ever done, requiring both endurance and precise technique. The route is divided into two sections:
Lille Krone (8b+) – the lower part.
Eigerdosis (8c) – the upper section, featuring over 50 sustained moves.
Kruder’s Ascent
Kruder, known for his competition climbing and bold trad ascents, spent two weeks in Norway working on the climb. He initially struggled with the first crux, but after refining his approach, he managed to send the route on his last possible attempt before leaving.
He described the climb as one of his hardest pure trad ascents, emphasizing the challenge of finding rests on poor hand jams while maintaining enough energy for the final moves. He placed 16 pieces of gear throughout the climb, noting that despite a runout at the top, the route felt safe.
Kruder praised Whittaker’s vision, calling Crown Royale an incredible line and expressing his hope to return for more challenges.
