Black Diamond Ambassador Nalle Hukkataival Sends L'alchimiste

In the shadowy pine forest of Fontainebleau, a legend has waited nearly twenty years for its next chapter. Black Diamond Ambassador Nalle Hukkataival returns to L’alchimiste, the infamous line first opened by Marc Le Menestral in 1996—then rendered “impossible” when the crux holds were mysteriously broken. This short film follows Nalle’s mission to revive the problem and test what’s still possible on one of the forest’s most storied pieces of stone. It’s worth watching for the mix of history and high-stakes precision: a modern master measuring himself against a route shaped by time, damage, and myth. You’ll get the quiet intensity of Fontainebleau movement—body tension, micro-footwork, and absolute commitment—plus the satisfying arc of perseverance when a climb refuses to give anything away. If you love hard bouldering, climbing lore, and the moment when doubt finally breaks before the climber does, this one delivers.

Black Diamond Equipment · 5:42

In 1996 Marc Le Menestral opened one of the hardest routes in the forest of Fontainebleau, known as L'alchimiste. Not long after Marc's ascent, the crux holds were mysteriously broken, and the route was deemed impossible. Now, nearly two decades later, Black Diamond Ambassador Nalle Hukkataival has reopened the problem.