Ryan's Inferno

On November 18, 2008, Than Hansen of Colorado Springs completed the first free ascent of Ryan's Inferno in Garden of the Gods, CO. At a tentative 5.13a, it is likely the hardest free pitch in the Garden of the Gods. The route was originally a project of local climber Ryan Sayers, who died in 2003 from a lightning strike in Wyoming's Windy River Range. The send marks the completion of the last of three major projects that Sayers' was close to finishing at the time of his death. Than was one of his closest friends and wore Sayers' old harness during the send as a tribute to a missed friend and climbing partner. View the video below:

The Colorado Springs Gazette had a brief article about the climb last month. Here's the link.]