May 19, 2026

36: Mademoiselle Fissure - Laura Pineau

Fresh off the world premiere of Queen Swing, return guest Laura Pineau is back on the podcast—this time stepping away from the Yosemite speed climbing stories to dive deeper into the experiences and climbing that shaped her.

We talk about Laura’s unconventional introduction to climbing through deep water soloing along the sea cliffs of southern France, how those early days falling into the Mediterranean built both her love for climbing and her tolerance for exposure, and the path that eventually led her toward trad and crack climbing. Laura shares the steep learning curve of transitioning from limestone sport climbing to granite big walls, the mentorship and partnerships that accelerated her progression, and how she became obsessed with the craft of crack climbing.

We also dive into her groundbreaking ascent of Wet Lycra Nightmare (13d) on Leaning Tower in Yosemite, becoming the first woman to free climb the route, and the mental and physical process behind taking on one of the Valley’s most intimidating testpieces.

Beyond Yosemite, Laura talks about her recent adventure with Elsa Ponzo to climb the “100 Most Beautiful Multi-Pitches” in the South of France in just 50 days—a massive endurance project filled with long days, logistics, partnership dynamics, and some of the best (and worst) rock in Europe.

Follow the Laura on Instagram: @laurapineau

Check out Laura's YouTube Channel: @Laura-Pineau

Read the Planet Mountain's article on Laura's FFA of Wet Lycra Nightmare

See the breakdown of the 100 multipitch routes in Provence on Planet Mountain

Get the latest information of tour dates for the Queen Swing, part of the Mountains on Stage film tour

Additional Links

100 Most Beautiful Multipitches Guidebook - Camp to Camp

Deepwater Soloing Une araignée au plafond

Mello Blocco Bouldering Festival

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