Solar Flare 5.12d

Solar Flare is a nine pitch route on the Incredible Hulk, a granite wall in the High Sierra near Bridgeport, California. It climbs sustained technical face and crack terrain at 5.12d, the kind of grade that in this setting is only part of the challenge: the approach, the alpine rock quality, weather, and the need to move efficiently over nine pitches with a partner all add difficulty beyond the numbers. It is one of the more sought after moderate to hard free lines on the wall, valued for continuously engaging climbing over a long day rather than for a single isolated crux pitch.

History

Conrad Anker and Peter Croft made the first ascent in 2007, establishing a free line up one of the Incredible Hulk's classic faces at a grade accessible to strong parties willing to take on a full alpine day. The route has since become a benchmark outing for climbers looking for a full length, single push route at 5.12d in the High Sierra, requiring both consistent technical climbing across all nine pitches and the logistics of moving quickly with a partner well above the trailhead.

On film

Alex Honnold Free Climbing 'Solar Flare' with Emily Harrington (2023) documents the two climbing Solar Flare together in the High Sierra. The pair repeated the 5.12d route as a single roped ascent, and the film centers on that one climb, following their movement through the nine pitches of the Incredible Hulk rather than a broader expedition. The ascent shown in the film took place in 2016, with the two climbing together as a team on their way up the wall.