Babsi Zangerl makes climbing history with her flash ascent of Freerider (7c+). She is the first person to succeed in flashing a big wall route on El Capitan in Yosemite Valley.
«It is time to rename El Capitan El Capitana.» This comment on the latest coup by Babsi Zangerl hits the nail on the head. The Tyrolean professional climber recently flashed the 1000-meter big wall Freerider (7c+). No one has ever done that before. Her rope partner Jacopo Larcher narrowly missed the flash ascent.
Historical Flash Tour
With her fall-free ascent of Freerider on her first attempt, Babsi Zangerl adds to her already long list of free ascents in Yosemite Valley to a new level. In the last ten years she has climbed El Niño (FFA), Zodiac (FFA), Magic Mushroom (FFA), Pre-Muir Wall, The Nose and El corazon free.
A number of world-class climbers have attempted a climb of this magnitude in Yosemite Valley. Briton Leo Holding, for example, almost managed to onsight Freerider in 2012.
Two years later, Pete Whittaker managed a flash ascent of the same route - but with some reservations. On the one hand, a traffic jam forced him to abandon his attempt at the end of the first day. On the other hand, he fell on the Huber variation of the route and, in order to save his flash ascent, continued climbing via Teflon Corner.
For once not in a double pack
During her flash ascent of Freerider, Babsi Zangerl was supported by her partner Jacopo Larcher. Larcher had set himself the same goal. While the climbing pair had usually been successful as a pair in the past, this time it didn't work out. Jacopo fell on the boulder crux and blew his chance with this faux pas.
That might interest you
- Jacopo Larcher and Babsi Zangerl repeat difficult multi-pitch route The Gift (8c, 350m)
- Babsi Zangerl: “That was the most shocking moment of the whole route”
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Credits: Cover picture Jacopo Larcher