Bubu Bole climbs The Empire strikes back M11 without leashes

A masterstroke of this sort had been in the air for quite a while, and the odds couldn't really have been better. A near miss at onsighting "The Empire strikes back", M11 in Val di Cogne, Italy earlier this year showed what 'Bubu' Bole was capable of and he confidently declared that, one day, it could be climbed without leashes.

Second place in Are behind François Lombard and fourth overall in the IWC 2000 ranking confirmed his form and, accompanied by Andrea Gallo for a photo and filming session, he returned to Val di Cogne. Armed with a modified ice axe grip he set off and sure enough freed "The Empire strikes back" without leashes!

Bubu's feats have not gone by unnoticed in the international climbing press: both Vertical and Rock & Ice mentioned his recent exploits, and the Spanish Desnivel even dedicated its front cover to the bubbly Italian.

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