Tom Wallisch

Iker Pou

Rock Climber

Alongside his older brother Eneko, Iker is half of one of the most successful climbing partnerships in the world. A diverse and daring climber who is as accomplished climbing on rock as he is tackling sport climbing, bouldering and big wall ascents, Iker’s success has earned him respect both in the climbing community and the wider public sphere. 

 

Quick Facts 

 

Birthdate: February 5, 1977

Hometown: Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain

Homebase: Mallorca and Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain

Favourite Book: The book “Garry Quebet” is very good!

Favourite Movie: La Isla Minima

Favourite Food: Spanish rice

Favourite Music: Punk

Biggest Dream: To find a big and beautiful wall in a remote unclimbed area.
How do I focus: If something motivates and inspires me, I have the capacity to put all my energy into that.

Best advice ever received: Always to try to be happy and never stop following your dreams.

What inspires you: The places that gives me good vibrations and positive energy. Good people and people that always try to be happy and push their limits.

Favourite fitness exercise: Surfing!

I don’t leave the house without my… The North Face DNP Jacket

 

The North Face: Common Ground

In July 2015, team climbers Hansjorg Auer, Jacopo Larcher, Siebe Vanhee, Iker Pou and Enekeo Pou set out to Siberia to explore the elusive Chukotka region of Siberia. With the goal of exploring and opening new routes this is a story of five technically different climbers coming together to share their passion of the big wall.

Movie: Common Ground, Siberia

 

Biography

Originating from the Basque Country in northern Spain, Iker started climbing with Eneko in 1992 and the brothers soon were exploring the Pyrenees together with their parents. From the beginning it was clear that Iker had an incredible talent for climbing on rock. He has now climbed more than 120 routes between 8c (5.14b) and 9a+ (5.15a) and 8c (5.14b) onsight. But Iker’s true passion was for adventure and this addiction drove him on to ever more exciting feats.

Joining forces with Eneko, the two have united their talents and energies to push new boundaries. The brothers have their differences – Iker is a fan of punk music, Eneko prefers rock and roll – but they share a mutual passion for exploration. Their most iconic achievement is their ‘Seven Walls, Seven Continents’ project in which they climbed the most spectacular wall in each corner of the globe between 2003 and 2008 - a mission which enabled them to explore the unknown and to push the limits of their own endurance, from The Totem Pole in Tasmania to the Zerua Peak of Antarctica.

The brothers have also pushed the boundaries of big wall climbing, making one of the hardest free-climbs to date on the West Face of the Naranjo de Bulnes, a 500m limestone wall leading to the summit of the Picos de Europa massif. With 'The Hardest of the Alps', a 2010 project to free climb three of the most difficult alpine routes within one summer, the brothers succeeded in something few people could have dared to dream about. A genuine trailblazer, Iker is proud to know that hundreds of climbers now want to copy his first routes around the world, including The Door (650m, proposed 8b) on Baffin Island in 2012 and Orbayu (8c+/550m) in Spain in 2009.

Iker is now focusing on one or two major expeditions each year, targeting the most aesthetically beautiful mountains around the world where he can create stunning new routes and truly original adventures. As expected from a man with a lifelong passion for mountains and discovery, his favourite climbs are his last one and his next one.

Career Highlights

  • The North Face Big Wall expedition, opened 8 new big wall lines, Siberia (2015)
  • “GUIRIS GO HOME” 8C. My first 8c onsight. Mallorca, Spain (2015)
  • “BIG MEN” 9ª+ First Ascent. Mallorca, Spain (2015)
  • “BAGHIRATHI II” Attempt of open new route, Himalaya India (2014)
  • “TARRAGO”8B+/200m First free ascent. Montserrat, Spain (2013)
  • “THE DOOR” ca. 650m, proposed 8b, Perfection Valley, Baffin Island. First ascent together with Eneko Pou, Hansjoerg Auer, Ben Lepesant (2012)
  • “THE HARDEST OF RIO” Two first free ascents in Pao de Azucar and Cristo Corcobado. “La via del tótem” 8ª/250m and “Athagio du diablo”8ª+/300m, Brasil (2011)
  • “DEMENCIA SENIL”9ª+ ,Second ascent, Margalef, Spain (2010)
  • “SOLO POR VECHI GUERRERI” 8C/200M, Dolomites (2010)
  • “PANAROMA” 8C/550m, Dolomites (2010)
  • “ZAHIR” 8B+/350m, Suiza (2010)
  • “ORBAYU” 8c+/550m, New route and free climb. Naranjo de Bulnes (Spain) (2009)
  • “7 Walls 7 Continents” (2003-2008) including El Nino 8b+/850m route on Yosemite’s El Capitan; Zunbeltz 8b+/500m route in Spanish Naranjo de Bulnes; Bravo Les Filles 8b/600m route in Madagascar; Free Route 7b+/65m in Tasmania’s Totem Pole; Eternal Flame 8a/1.100m in Pakistan’s Trango Tower; the Supercanaleta 6c/M6/90º/2.000m route of Fitz Roy in Argentinian Patagonia; and the first ascent of Zerua Peak on the Antarctic Peninsula with a new route Azken Paradisua 7a/M6/90º/760m. 
  • “ZERUA PEAK” New peak and new route 7ª/750m, 200m ice. Antarctica (2008)
  • Fitz Roy summit, “SUPER CANALETA” 1800m/6c/M5, Patagonia, Argentina (2007)
  • “QUINTO IMPERIO” 8b/500m. Naranjo de Bulnes, Spain (2006)
  • “LURGORRI” 8C+/250M. Naranjo de Bulnes, Spain (2006)
  • “ETERNAL FLAME” 8ª/1000m Himalaya, Trango Tower, Pakistan (2005)
  • Second person in the world to do 8c sport climbing route at Flash “ALPINISMO DEPORTIVO”, Spain (2004)
  • First free ascent of “BRAVO LES FILLES” 8b/650m, Madagascar (2004)
  • Third ascent of “EL NIÑO”8b, Yosemite USA (2003)
  • First Spanish to carry out 8B+ Boulder problem with “SORGINETXE”, Spain (2003)
  • SILBERGEIER" 8b+/250M, Ratikon (Alps) with brother Eneko (2002)
  • Third ascent of the mythical first 9ª in the world “ACTION DIRECT”9ª, Germany (2000)
  • First free ascent of “EL PILAR DEL CANTABRICO” 8ª+/550M - Naranjo de Bulnes, Spain (1997)