Le Fantôme du Bricolage, dry variation added to Fantasma di ghiaccio in Valsavarenche (Italy)

It's been clear for a while now that Valsavara is the new home of ice climbing in Valle d'Aosta, but Nic and I this season are practically earning honorary citizenship. Despite the many days of work, we still managed to find the time to tackle something ourselves.

Nic suggested we go and climb a icefall that forms once in a blue moon and seems to be in condition this year: Il fantasma di ghiaccio (The Ice Phantom). We set off prepared to possibly climb some rock to reach the fringes if the pillar wasn't good, and that's exactly how it turned out.

Thanks to Nic's usual willingness to work hard and push through, Le fantôme du bricolage came to light: a beautiful dry variant that reaches two thin tongues of ice, that required maximum delicacy despite our forearms gradually swelling up (hence the ice grade).

My own contribution was coming up with the name, dedicated entirely to my climbing partner and friend who, with so much passion, takes on massive workloads so that I and many others like me can have fun!

- Giovanni Ravizza, Turin

Link: guidaalpinagiovanniravizza.it