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Hardest Route in Italy | Wonderland 9b/9b+ | Adam Ondra

Author(s): Adam Ondra
Video Release Date: June 29, 2022
Video Source: YouTube

Even though the crag is called Terra Promessa (Promised Land), I hadn’t thought that it would once host Arco’s and Italy’s hardest route . The hard routes around 8b and 8c were developed mainly by Reini Scherer in the late 90s and since the development of this crag has mostly stopped. There were still quite a few spots where the rock was untouched, but the question was if it would go. Alfredo Webber, once again, saw this wonderful line, put the effort, and placed the bolts, but the question mark was about the very beginning. I found a detour slightly to the left using a few very slopy pinches and tiny crimps, replaced 3 bolts, and it was obvious that line was possible! We worked on the route for a few days in the autumn with @Stefano Ghisolfi. Eventually, I felt I was quite close to sending, but despite this winter being extremely dry, this crag is not exactly winter crag and the crucial tufa kept seeping. The route dried up in March and after a few days of work, I did the first free no-fall ascent through “Wonderland”, some of my proudest first ascents! Regarding the grade, I know it is considerably harder than most of the 9b’s, but if it really breaks into the 9b+ barrier, it is really difficult to know…

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