Fabian Buhl Makes Solo Winter Ascent of 5.14b Alpine Route in Austria

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FROM MARCH 17 TO 19, German climber Fabian Buhl tried to not think about falling as he made the first winter ascent, solo, of the Wetterbockwand (5.14b, 350m) on the east face of Hoher Goell (2522m) in Austria’s Berchtesgaden Alps. At times, ten meters out from the last bolt, he held on to tiny edges with one numb hand, while he used the other to brush snow off the next hold he planned to use. If he slipped, he knew it would be about twenty-five meters until his solo-climbing device clattered and stopped his fall. Full story (ALPINIST)