South Tyrolean alpinist Simon Gietl regularly establishes new routes in the Alps. For his first ascent of "Born Ready" (9, 115 m) on the Hintere Geierwand, he enlisted Constantin Schwaab as support.
The Dolomites They missed out on another new Gietl route: On May 23rd and 25th, the South Tyrolean climber, together with the German Constantin Schwaab, established the new line "Born Ready" (9, 8 obl.). The 115-meter-long route runs along the still relatively unexplored central part of the Hintere Geierwand. Gietl had established another line there a year earlier with Jakob Steinkasserer. "FOMO" (9-).
New tour with a breathtaking Dolomite panorama
The Hintere Geierwand is a very special place for Simon Gietl, who regularly completes first ascents in the Dolomites. "Born Ready" had also been on his to-do list ever since the first ascent of "FOMO".
“I noticed the striking pillar last year,” says Gietl. “When I then looked more closely at the pictures, I knew: A beautiful, traditional line could still be possible there.” When he showed the picture to Constantin Schwaab, he was immediately on board.
The silence, the panorama, and the aesthetic pillar make this place so special.
Simon Gietl
Traditional is a good description: "Born Ready" is a route very much in the style of the first ascensionists and the climbing philosophy of the DolomitesThis means: no bolts, but varied, overhanging climbing on ledges, pockets, and cracks. Total length: 115 meters.
Gietl and Schwaab left 14 pitons and three spikes in the wall during their first ascent. A few days later, on May 27th, Gietl redpointed the route, belayed by Mario Kaeppeli. The first ascensionists recommend that future climbers carry two sets of cams in addition to their usual gear.
About the route
The first ascensionists rated the difficulty of the five-pitch route "Born Ready" at 9. While the first pitch is "only" grade 8, the crux is about eight meters above the ground. "You can't protect this first crux; you can only place a good totem after it – falling is not allowed until then," says Gietl.
After that, the route becomes somewhat more difficult, but the terrain is significantly better. Except for the last pitch, every section of the line is overhanging. "This demanding alpine tour shouldn't be underestimated – even though it's very beautiful," says Gietl. Those attempting it again should therefore be comfortable climbing in the eighth grade.
- First ascent: Simon Gietl & Constantin Schwaab, May 23 & 25, 2026
- Redpoint ascent: Simon Gietl, May 27, 2026
- Length: 115 meters, 5 rope lengths
- Difficulty: 8, 8+/9-, 8+, 9, 7-
- safeguarding: 14 standard hooks and 3 pecks (no bolts!)
- Features: two sets of cameras (in addition to the usual equipment)
- Approach: approximately 1 hour 15 minutes from the Geierwand via the right gully to the start.
- Descent: Rappelling down the route or going left around the loop to the starting point.
Simon Gietl and the search for the next Kingline
With "Born Ready" Simon Gietl The climbing world has once again been treated to a high-quality alpine route – the absolute passion of the South Tyrolean. "I'm always on the lookout for new lines," Gietl writes on Instagram. "Before you know it, you find a real gem – just like this time."
Gietl not only regularly expands the route selection in the Dolomites, but also pushes the boundaries of climbing in the region. In the winter of 2020, he achieved the first winter solo traverse of the Three PeaksIn 2021, he completed the first winter solo ascent of the central pillar on the Heiligkreuzkofel (Mariacher variant). The following year, he solo-traversed all the main peaks of the Rosengarten skyline, followed in 2023 by the solo traverse of the Geisler peaks.
That might interest you
- Simon Gietl and Davide Prandini redpoint the Dolomites route “Identity” for the first time
- New route in the Dolomites: FOMO on the Hintere Geierwand
+ + +
Credits cover image: Simon Gietl