First Ascent on the Rot Spitz West Face: “Weg durch den Blitz”
For many alpine climbers, a first ascent is the very essence of adventure.
It’s about finding new paths, exploring the unknown and turning the idea of your own line on the rock into reality. The process often begins with an idea, or with a glance at an untouched wall that sparks a longing for new ground.
This summer (2024) I got to experience exactly this kind of adventure with one of my best friends, Fabian Lorenz. We succeeded in climbing a great new line in our home mountains, the Lechtal Alps.
The route, Weg durch den Blitz (“Path through the Lightning”), climbs the west face of the Rotspitze in eight pitches. The line seeks out the easiest, most logical way through a steep wall and never goes beyond grade 7. We placed nine bolts and eleven pitons as protection and left them in the wall. The belays are bolted and set up for abseiling. The rock is mostly solid, and the climbing is very varied.
Photos from the tour
