Eldorado Canyon, Colorado — The elite tier of global bouldering has just seen another monumental send. On April 13, 2026, 25-year-old American climber Zach Galla secured the coveted third ascent of Megatron (V17 / 9A), further cementing his status as one of the strongest climbers on the planet.

The Beast of Eldorado Canyon

Located in Colorado's iconic Eldorado Canyon, Megatron is a formidable testpiece. First ascended by Shawn Raboutou in 2022, the boulder demands absolute physical perfection and endurance. It connects a savage seven-move V15 sequence directly into the ten moves of Daniel Woods' stand-start problem Tron (V14), with absolutely no rest in between.

Prior to Galla's send, the problem had only seen one repeat: British climber Hamish McArthur claimed the second ascent in April 2025.

Galla's Mental Strategy: The "Doublethink" Tactic

While Galla noted that the individual moves and shorter links felt manageable early on, putting the entire sequence together proved to be his biggest challenge. To overcome the mental hurdle of the send-go, Galla employed a unique psychological tactic.

"As I sat under the boulder getting ready for my first try of the day, I tried to convince myself I had sent Megatron before and that this go would be an attempt at repeating it. With this mindset, I pulled on with less attachment to the outcome and a sole focus on the move in front of me." — Zach Galla

This mental shift worked. Galla noted that before he knew it, he was at the final few moves. Despite being numb and wildly pumped, he dug deep and executed the final sequence, noting it was "just barely enough."

By the Numbers: Galla's V17 Hat Trick

This send is a massive milestone for Galla, marking his third V17 (9A) completion within just a few months. His recent track record is nothing short of historic:

  • Shaolin (V17): Red Rock, Nevada (December 2025)
  • Return of the Sleepwalker (V17): Red Rock, Nevada (December 2025)
  • Megatron (V17): Eldorado Canyon, Colorado (April 2026)

In addition to these world-class 9A climbs, Galla has been on an absolute rampage over the last year, taking down Devilution (V16) and Lucid Dreaming (V15) in the Buttermilks earlier this winter, and repeating Daniel Woods' Hypnotized Minds (V16) last fall.

With Megatron now crossed off the list, Galla has cleared out some of the hardest established lines in the United States. The climbing community will be watching closely to see if he sets his sights on new, unclimbed projects to continue pushing the ceiling of the sport.