Eisföhnig, new ice climb on the Renkfälle, Austria by Benedikt Purner

Desipte conditions being anything but ideal for ice climbing in Austria's Tyrol, Benedikt Purner has just nabbed an ascent worth highlighting after his recent first ascent of Quasimodo in the Floitental: an extremely thin short new variation on the famous Renkfälle called "Eisföhnig" M7+/WI7.

Located high in the Kaunertal at circa 2000m, the Renkfälle tend to remain in condition long after the warm Föhn wind has rendered other drips unclimbable and on 09/02/2011 Purner teamed up with Alex Blümel to check out what was still on offer.

After climbing the Teufelskralle (M7+, WI6+ Florian Schranz & Egon Netzer), Purner and Blümel noticed that the classic "Eiskönig" dagger on the upper left-hand side had collapsed, revealing an overhanging crack covered in a thin layer of ice. They swiftly climbed up to the balcony and Purner then fought hard to on-sight the 10m crack. Climbing over the hollow lip proved both physically and mentally taxing and Purner had to summon all his reserves to avoid taking the fall on this WI/, after which gentle grade 6 ice led to the top.