22 DAYS - The story behind my first 9A / V17 boulder | ALPHANE

"22 DAYS - The story behind my first 9A / V17 boulder | ALPHANE" is a rock climbing video (27 minutes) published by Jakob Schubert on June 13, 2025 with 60K views. Available to watch free on CouchClimbs.

In 22 Days, world-class climber Jakob Schubert documents his relentless pursuit of Alphane, one of the hardest boulders on the planet. Located in the iconic Swiss test piece venue of Chironico, Alphane carries a grade of 9A/V17, a standard reached by only a handful of climbers in history. Schubert's film chronicles the full arc of his December 2023 campaign, from the earliest attempts to crack the movement, through repeated setbacks caused by shifting conditions, all the way to the eventual send that capped 22 grueling days on the rock. What makes this film essential viewing is its unflinching honesty. Rather than a polished highlight reel, Schubert and his filmmaking team capture the psychological toll of elite bouldering, the beta switches, the frustration, and the moments where giving up seemed like the rational choice. Watching one of the best climbers alive struggle, adapt, and ultimately persevere offers something rare in climbing media: a window into what it actually feels like to push against the outer limit of human capability on stone.

Jakob Schubert · 27:42

Alphane, located in Chironico / Switzerland, is one of the hardest boulders in the world graded 9A / V17. After 22 days filled with ups and downs I was finally able to send this test piece in December 2023. The film documents the biggest battle I ever had with a boulder, switching back and forth between different betas and repeatedly getting shut down by bad conditions to the point where I almost gave up. Supported by @mammut Filmed by Michael Piccolruaz, Yucca Films, Matt Groom, Moritz Klee, and Kim Marschner. @gloryfy_unbreakable