Michaela Kiersch and Ashima Shiraishi Establish V13 in Morocco - Gripped Magazine

Michaela Kiersch and Ashima Shiraishi Establish V13 in Morocco

Named to reflect their trip together to Morocco, Kiersch and Shiraishi got the first and second ascent of the stunning sandstone problem

Michaela Kiersch and Ashima Shiraishi have just announced they made the first and second ascents of a Taradine V13 in Oukaïmeden, Morocco. The two travelled together to explore new problems. Kiersch described it as “10 magical days exploring, discovering, cleaning, and climbing in Morocco.” Taradine features quilted striations and horizontal slots on a very overhanging sandstone boulder.

“The name means ‘girls,’ which is fitting because [Ashima Shiraishi] and I adventured to Morocco together and managed the first and second ascents of this project,” said Kiersch on Instagram. “This boulder problem added a sit start at the lowest right point of the boulder and climbed through a series of crimps, slopers, and sloping crimps, which culminated in a (potentially heartbreaking) deadpoint to a slot.”

Kiersch and Shiraishi also established a fierce V8 named Neverland, making quick work of the problem, and offering two different betas. “This boulder was incredibly morpho, and [Ashima Shiraishi] and I spent over an hour working on our individual methods,” said Kiersch. “I ended up with this flagpole jump, and she opted for a more static high toe hook. The views were breathtaking, but this boulder was the reason for my sunburn.”

Oukaïmeden sits at an elevation of 2700 meters, making climbing possible year-round. If you want to take a glimpse of the impeccable sandstone boulders, check out the video below.

Kiersch said on 8a.nu that she also made first ascents of four highballs: Atlas V11, Aphrodite V6, Artemis V8, and Athena V9 while in Oukaïmeden. She recently made history in September 2025 with her first ascent of Mad Lib 5.14d in Lone Rock Point, Vermont. This was the hardest sport route to ever be established by a woman in North America. Two days later, she made the FFA of Livin’ Astroglide 5.14c in Rumney, New Hampshire. In November 2024, she climbed Dreamtime V15 in Cresciano, Switzerland. In doing so, she became the first woman to climb both V15 and 5.15a. Her 5.15a climbs include La Rambla in 2023 and Víctima Perfecta in 2024.

Shiraishi is a climbing icon. At the incredibly young age of 14, Shiraishi became the first woman to climb V15 with her repeat of Horizon at Mount Hiei, Japan, days before her 15th birthday. The send made her the youngest person to climb the grade. In more recent years, she has found a way to merge her love of the sport with her love of art. In January, she premiered a film, Tamashi, that does just that.