Katie Lamb has added another remarkable achievement to her climbing repertoire with the ascent of Fallen Angel (8C) near Lake Tahoe. Originally established by Jimmy Webb in 2021, the problem has since been repeated by Shawn Raboutou in the same session, followed by David Fitzgerald in 2022 and Keenan Takahashi in 2024.
This challenging line starts with a high step into an undercling, demanding precision through a sequence of left-hand bumps to a gaston position. Climbers then face a technical crux requiring a locked left shoulder and precise footwork to maintain tension on the undercling.
Unlike previous ascents, which relied on a sharp “shark’s tooth” crimp that Webb famously disliked, Lamb took a different approach. She used a sloping intermediate hold, matched the gaston rail, and executed the final moves with her own unique style.
In her understated announcement, Lamb reflected on the personal significance of the climb, saying only, “You’ll just have to trust that this meant a lot to me.”
