Yannick Flohé climbs Ticino classics Ephyra (8C+) and From Dirt Grows the Flowers (8C)

Yannick Flohé has made a brilliant start to the new climbing year: in Ticino's Bouldering Mecca Chironico, he climbed two tough test pieces in one day on January 24th: Ephyra (8C+) and From Dirt Grows the Flowers (8C).

Yannick Flohe is one of the strongest German climbers - not only with but also without a rope. While he was demonstrating his sport climbing skills during a US trip in December of last year and scored some of the hardest routes of the Red River Gorge in just a few attempts (Lacrux reported), the new year will see the Ticino bouldering classics get down to business: In Chironico he climbs within a day Ephyra (8C+) as well as on the same block From Dirt Grows the Flowers (8C).

Hopeless Mantle

During his last visit to Ticino, he tried the two lines for a few days. "I came pretty close to climbing Ephyra," says Yannick Flohé. However, he was not able to climb all the way through the test piece that Jimmy Webb had climbed for the first time.

Things looked a lot more hopeless in Dave Graham's line From Dirt Grows the Flowers (8C) on the same block. "I didn't even consider calling the boulder a project because the mantle felt so hard that I never even tried it from the start."

"I didn't even consider calling From Dirt Grows the Flowers a project because the mantle felt so hard."

Yannick Flohe
With Ephyra (8C+) and From Dirt Grows the Flowers (8C), Yannick Flohé repeats two tough Ticino classics in one day. Image: Xaver Quintus | xaverquintus.net
With Ephyra (8C+) and From Dirt Grows the Flowers (8C), Yannick Flohé repeats two tough Ticino classics in one day. Picture: Xavier Quintus | xaverquintus.net

Top conditions, good skin

Yesterday Yannick Flohé returned to the sector Shadow Valley back in Chironico – in optimal conditions and with good skin. As soon as he started warming up on the From Dirt Grows the Flowers mantle, he found it felt surprisingly good.

"After a few attempts, I climbed my main project, Ephyra."

Yannick Flohe

Still having reserves of strength, the 23-year-old devoted himself to the start of Dave Graham's Testpiece from 2005. «After falling out twice at the very end, this time my foot didn't slip and I was on top of the block. What a day!"

That might interest you

Do you like our climbing magazine? When we launched LACRUX, we decided not to introduce a payment barrier. It will stay that way, because we want to provide as many like-minded people with news from the climbing scene.

In order to be more independent of advertising revenue in the future and to provide you with even more and better content, we need your support.

Therefore: Help and support our magazine with a small contribution. Naturally you benefit multiple times. How? You will find out here.

+ + +

Credits: Cover picture Xavier Quintus

News

Paraclimbing gets first official German championship

On July 5 and 6, 2025, the first official open German Paraclimbing Championship will take place at the DAV Climbing Center in Augsburg – a milestone for inclusive climbing.

Above the abyss: first highline at over 4.000 meters in the Mont Blanc massif

The French collective “Les Passagers du Vide” has created a highline at a dizzying 4.000 meters altitude in the Mont Blanc massif – without a helicopter or external assistance.

Jakob Schubert cancels home World Cup due to injury

Jakob Schubert will not be participating in the World Cup in Innsbruck due to a long-term finger injury. The decision was particularly difficult for the six-time world champion, considering he won the Austrian National Championships just last week.

Difficult alpine route on Denali climbed solo for the first time | Slovak Direct

American alpinist Balin Miller has made the first solo ascent of Slovak Direct, one of the hardest and steepest routes on Denali in Alaska.

Paraclimbing gets first official German championship

On July 5 and 6, 2025, the first official open German Paraclimbing Championship will take place at the DAV Climbing Center in Augsburg – a milestone for inclusive climbing.

Above the abyss: first highline at over 4.000 meters in the Mont Blanc massif

The French collective “Les Passagers du Vide” has created a highline at a dizzying 4.000 meters altitude in the Mont Blanc massif – without a helicopter or external assistance.

Jakob Schubert cancels home World Cup due to injury

Jakob Schubert will not be participating in the World Cup in Innsbruck due to a long-term finger injury. The decision was particularly difficult for the six-time world champion, considering he won the Austrian National Championships just last week.