The Mandala

The Mandala bouldering problem climbs a steep overhanging prow on a large granite boulder that for many decades was considered too difficult and futuristic to solve; the boulder itself contains several notable bouldering routes including Pope's Prow at a grade of V6 (7A).[6]

In 2008, Climbing magazine recounted a story from the 1970s where John Bachar and Ron Kauk reportedly joked that the line [then unnamed] would one day fall to John Gill's grandchildren, and describing it as a boulder that "to this day remains one of the most coveted and storied problems in American bouldering".[6]

It was first climbed by Chris Sharma in February 2000.[4][7] Sharma's ascent received much acclaim in the climbing community, however, he did not assign the problem a grade.[8] The boulder was repeated by other climbers several months later in quick succession, the first being American boulder pioneer Dave Graham,[4] the second was by Jared Roth, and the third repeat was by Swiss bouldering pioneer Fred Nicole; and the consensus grade was settled at V12 (8A+).[9] Since the first ascent, several holds have broken, including one of the crux holds.[9][2] In 2002, Tony Lamiche completed the first flash of the route.[4] In January 2008, Lisa Rands made the first female ascent,[4][6] and in 2011, Alex Johnson made the second female ascent.[8]

The Mandala became one of the most widely known boulder problems in the world,[4][10][11] and its notability means that even contemporary ascents of the boulder are often covered by the climbing media.[9][12][13]

In 2002, a sit start (SDS) was added by Tony Lamiche, which is graded at V14 (8B+),[7][14] and is sometimes referred to as The Mandaloin, or The Mandala SDS.[15] In 2007, Jeff Silcox added a more intimidating direct finish (avoiding the left escape near the top of the prow), to create The Mandala Direct, still graded V12 (8A+).[15] Later in 2007, Paul Robinson, added the sit-down-start to Silcox's route, making the first ascent of The Mandala Direct Assis, graded V14 (8B+).[15]

The Mandala has been ascended by:

• 1st. Chris Sharma in February 2000.[4][7]
• 2nd. Dave Graham in 2000.[9]
• 3rd. Jared Roth in 2000.[9]
• 4th. Fred Nicole in 2000.[9]

First female free ascents (FFFA):

• 1st. Lisa Rands in January 2008.[4][6][9][14]
• 2nd. Alex Johnson in January 2011.[9][8]

• Chris Sharma's first ascent: Lowell, Josh (director) (11 February 2012). Dosage Volume I (Motion picture). Big UP Productions. ASIN B000NOK288. Retrieved 25 December 2021.

• Dreamtime, famous V15 (8C) boulder in Cresciano, Switzerland
• Midnight Lightning, famous V8 (7B/7B+) boulder in Camp 4 (Yosemite)
• The Wheel of Life, famous V15 (8C) boulder in the Grampians, Australia

• Rock Stars: 10 of the Most Famous Boulder Problems in the World, 99Boulders (2021)