Baffin Island, new big wall by Belgian-Italian team in Stewart Valley

A Baffin Island expedition comprised of a “dream team” of big wall climbers has got off to a thundering start. Belgians Nicolas Favresse and Sean Villanueva and the Italians Ragni di Lecco alpinists Matteo Della Bordella Matteo De Zaiacomo and Luca Schiera reached Clyde River at the start of June and after having dragged their sledges for 6 days across the frozen ice pack they then established base camp in Stewart Valley towards the 22nd of June and immediately “warmed-up” by climbing a new route up Walker Citadel.

After having observed this “this magical big wall mecca” the team has now established a new nigh 100m line up Great Sail Peak, climbed over 7 days in weather which was far from ideal. At present there is little other information apart from the fact that they have 65 days of food to explore the area and that, knowing the the five alpinists, the new route is bound to have been a great outing!