My friends and I are blown away at the amazing route. But how did he protect the offwidth sections in 1951? I cannot find any info on the internet.

He almost certainly didn't protect the OW sections back then

Tied off shovels.

I don't recall protecting much of that section in 2012. It's relatively easy climbing, i'm guessing he just sacked up and climbed. Or tied off a few shovels.

Yeah I'm pretty sure he was just chocking his gigantic sack in there as he moved up.

The Gendarme used to have a pipe you could "check out" specifically for the route I think but it may be a thing of the past at this point.