'Zero Termico' added to Cima Ceda Occidentale in Brenta Dolomites, Italy

I noticed this super aesthetic line on the huge southwest face of Cima Ceda Occidentale while scouting around the base of the wall on 15 September. That day, Walter Endrizzi and I were supposed to repeat Vecchio saggio on Ceda Occidentale, but it was bitterly cold - completely unsuitable for climbing. Some of the waterfalls in Val d’Ambiez had even frozen solid.

That evening, I sent a photo to Davide Dallago with the hypothetical line, and at the first opportunity, we met at the base of the wall. It was 9 November; the days were short and crisp and, with the sun arriving late, we took our time and started the first pitch around noon. By dusk, I was halfway up the fourth pitch. I lowered back to the belay, and with a 60-meter abseiled, we returned to the base of the wall.

On 29 June Walter unfortunately had to bail right at the last minute, so only Davide and I returned to the wall. Everything went smoothly — we swung leads and climbed the route free all the way to the summit. We reached the top of Cima Ceda on one of the hottest days ever recorded (freezing level at 5,200 meters!), staring at the photo I’d sent to Davide back in September. The newly opened route, Zero Termico, followed the imagined line perfectly.

- Daniele Bolognani, Lavis, Trento