Simon Gietl completes first winter solo traverse of Geislerspitzen in Dolomites
South Tyrolean mountaineer Simon Gietl has made the first winter solo traverse of the Geislerspitzen - Odles (Villnöß - Funes) in the Dolomites.
A year after his first solo winter traverse of all the main peaks of the famous Rosengarten skyline, Simon Gietl has now completed another little coup with the first solo winter traverse of the Geislerspitzen. Those extraordinary needles that tower above the Villnöß valley and that have made this skyline one of the most famous and photographed in the Dolomites
Taking advantage of the unprecedented high pressure system that has held Central Europe in its grip for the last fortnight, the 38-year-old South Tyrolean alpinist set off at 5:00am on Tuesday from his car at Campil and climbed until 17:00, stopping to bivouac at the base of the via ferrata between Furchetta and Sass Rigais. The next day he continued his solo climb and bivied between Grande Fermeda and Piccola Fermeda. On Thursday, after having summited 12 peaks and completed the skyline crossing, he descended to Seceda where he was welcomed by the only person who knew about his project, fellow mountain guide Andrea Oberbacher. Gietl had taken with him an 18kg rucksack, including a small tent, a lightweight sleeping bag, a stove and a 60m rope.
As mentioned, Gietl's traverse is a small masterpiece, easily one of the best climbs this winter, not only in the Dolomites. Reached by phone, Gietl told planetmountain that his traverse was "a unique experience. An experiment, too, since apart from Grande Cir I didn't know any of the peaks. Of course I'd done some research on the internet before setting off, but I soon realised that I'd underestimated the overall distance and complexity. When I got out of bed this morning, my first thought wasn't 'I've done the traverse' but 'I am knackered!'"
Start Campill 1620m
Torre S. Zenòn 2599m
Sasso S. Zenòn 2610m
Sass da l‘Ega 2924m
Odla di Valdussa 2942m
Furchetta 3030m
Sass Rigàis 3025m
Grande Odla 2832m
Camp. di Fùnes 2834m
Grande Fermeda 2814m
Piccola Fermeda 2640m
Cima di Brògles 2590m
Seceda 2518m
Finish Baita Pramulin Hütte St.Christna 1590m
Simon Gietl thanks: Salewa, Edelrid, Neolit, Komperdell, Keaxl-Board, Hotel Schwarzenstein, Lyo-Foot, Südtirol, Lowa, Gloryfy
Links: FB Simon Gietl, www.simongietl.it
Share
NEWS / Related news:
In Val Badia (Dolomites) Simon Gietl, Aaron Durogati, Davide Prandini establish Felsenkeller
On Mt Somamunt in the tiny Antersasc valley above Longiarù / Campill in Val Badia (Dolomites) Simon Gietl, first with Aaron Durogati then with Davide Prandini, made the first ascent of the mixed climb Felsenkeller'.
New mixed climb added to Sass Pordoi (Dolomites) by Simon Gietl, Andrea Oberbacher
On 10/12/2022 the two South Tyrolean mountain guides Simon Gietl and Andrea Oberbacher made the first ascent of Avatar, a new mixed climb up the NW Face of Sasso Pordoi in the Dolomites.
Simon Gietl makes winter solo of Hruschka on Peitlerkofel, Dolomites
On Saturday 19 March 2022 Simon Gietl from the South Tyrol, Italy, made a solo winter ascent of Via Hruschka on the north face of Peitlerkofel / Sass de Putia in the Dolomites. The 37-year-old descended by paragliding off the summit.
Simon Gietl completes first traverse of Rosengarten skyline, Dolomites, solo and in winter
Simon Gietl from the South Tyrol, Italy, has made the first traverse of all the main summits of the famous Rosengarten / Catinaccio skyline in the Dolomites. The 38-year-old mountain guide carried out the crossing alone and in winter.
Simon Gietl completes winter solo of Große Mauer on Heiligkreuzkofel, Dolomites
Yesterday Simon Gietl made a winter solo ascent of Große Mauer / Grande Muro on Heiligkreuzkofel / Sass dla Crusc in the Dolomites. The mountaineer the South Tyrol, Italy, returned to valley by paraglider.
Simon Gietl makes winter solo ascent of Mittelpfeiler on Heiligkreuzkofel in the Dolomites
On 25/02/2021 South Tyrolean alpinist Simon Gietl completed a solo ascent of Mittelpfeiler / Pilastro di Mezzo on Heiligkreuzkofel / Sass dla Crusc in the Dolomites, via the Mariacher variation.
Simon Gietl Tre Cime di Lavaredo solo winter enchainment interview
Interview with South Tyrolean mountaineer Simon Gietl after his solitary winter traverse of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo in the Dolomites. From 24 to 25 February the 35-year-old climbed Cima Ovest, Cima Grande, Cima Piccola, Punta di Frida and Cima Piccolissima.
Simon Gietl completes solo Tre Cime di Lavaredo winter enchainment
From 24 to 25 February the South Tyrolean mountaineer Simon Gietl carried out a winter crossing of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo on his own, linking Cima Ovest, Cima Grande, Cima Piccola, Punta di Frida and Cima Piccolissima.
Pandora on Pordoi, Simon Gietl and Vittorio Messin add huge mixed climb to the Dolomites
From 16 to 17 December 2019, after a day of reconnaissance, alpinists Simon Gietl and Vittorio Messini established Pandora (600m, V, M5, A0, WI6) up the west face of Pordoi (Dolomites) . This ice and mixed climb links via Abram with via Niagara and tackles the huge hanging icefall that formed on the upper section of the face.
Peitlerkofel Dolomites / Simon Gietl, Mark Oberlechner add new winter climb
On 26 January 2019 Italian mountaineers Simon Gietl and Mark Oberlechner made the first ascent of Kalipe, a difficult new ice and mixed climb up the North Face of Peitlerkofel / Sass de Putia in the Dolomites.
