Michaela Kiersch does Dolby Surround (9a+) in Zillertal, Austria

Making the most of her extended stay in Innsbruck, on 8 May 2026 American climber Michaela Kiersch made the first female ascent of Dolby Surround in the picturesque Zillertal valley. The former Uwe Eder project was freed in 2008 by Kilian Fischhuber at 8c+/9a, and despite its beauty, over the years has received only a handful of ascents. Kiersch needed 20 sessions spread out over 2 months to clip the anchors of what she has described as "one of the most beautiful routes I’ve ever tried."

A hold broke in recent years making the crux section even more intense, and despite Jakob Schubert repeating it at 9a, the 31-year-old believes the climb may even warrant 9a+. She explained "After chatting with some others who have tried the route and mostly leaning on my own experience, 9a+/5.15a feels appropriate. But time will tell and hopefully we see a few more ascents in the next decade haha"

Dolby Surround is Kiersch's third 9a+, after La Rambla at Siurana in January 2023 and Víctima Perfecta at Margalef in April 2024.

Kiersch thanks her sponsors: La Sportiva, Petzl, Organic Climbing

 

 

 

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