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Kurt Astner flashes Mission Impossible in Valsavarenche

On 27 January Kurt Astner flashed Mauro Bubu Bole's Mission Impossible next to the Haston cave, Valsavarenche, Va di Cogne, Italy.

Planetmountain.com

January 2003

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Kurt Astner flashing Mission Impossible, Valsavarenche

Anna Torretta

Kurt Astner has flashed Mission Impossible. The Italian Mountain Guide sent Mauro Bubu Bole's 2000 drytooling testpiece on 27 January after watching Anna Torretta try the route, located close to Stevie Haston's mythical cave in Valsavaranche, Northern Italy.

Mission Impossible had seen some fresh ascents of late by Massimo Farina and the Russian Alexei Tomilov, who in between World Cup commitments needed just three attempts to top out. Astner, who placed fifth overall in the IWC 2003, commented his impressive flash as follows:

"It was hard. Mission Impossible had been my dream, although I'd never dreamt I'd be able to climb it on-sight or flash. My friend Massimo Farina (Mauro Bole's belayer during his first ascent. Editor's note) repeated it a few days ago, as did Tomilov in just three attempts. The route is an integral part of dry tooling history and, what's more, I'm good friends with Bubu. So the route meant a lot to me, I really wanted to climb it first go. I gave it all I had... When I reached the abseil tree at the top I couldn't even shout "safe". I was totally "pumped" … but happy, truly happy!"

Kurt Astner route selection
Reintal: Philips W6 M7 (5 pitches); Pustertaler Halbgefrohrenes W6 M8 (7 pitches); Zapfenlos W5 M8+ (3 pitches); Altprags Spitzbart W5 M8 (4 pitches ; Dings Bums W5 M7 (2 pitches); Millenium Variante M 9-; Top-Machine W5 M9 (3 pitches); Mondschein M 9-
Hoehlensteintal: Stille Erinerungen M 9-; Fly in the Wind M10; Fliegender Holl…nder M 9
Haston's cave: Capitain Hock M 10; Hollywood Life M8; Pima M9+; Welcom the ... M9
Cogne: X-Files M10