Last autumn, Jakob Schubert was able to free a tough long-term project in the Zillertal. His first ascent, The Flame, checks in at a difficulty level of 9b.
Jakob Schubert succeeds in the first ascent of The Flame (9b) in the Zillertal. The fact that he is only now communicating this ascent is probably due to the fact that his climbing year in 2023 was so extraordinary and that he strung one success after another.
The Flame is undoubtedly one of my absolute favorite climbs - completely natural and with excellent rock quality.
Jakob Schubert
From Flatanger to little Flatanger
After Jakob Schubert was able to climb BIG (9c) for the first time in the Norwegian high-end climbing area Flatanger last September, he traveled directly to the Zillertal to try out a line that Jorg Verhoeven had drilled a few years ago. The route is located in the Little Flatanger sector and offers a unique style for the Zillertal granite.
The Flame is long, steep and requires crazy endurance.
Jakob Schubert
Video: Jorg Verhoeven in his ultimate project The Flame
Complex climbing with tricky sequences
“The line is really complex and it took me a while to decipher all the tricky sequences,” says Schubert. After figuring out where the diverter should sit, he added two more bolts before it was time to give it a proper go. After five days of projecting, the strong Austrian was able to climb The Flame in an intense battle.
It felt very hard and I think The Flame could be a 9b in the upper range. I'm so curious to see what other people will say and I can't wait for them to try them.
Jakob Schubert
The route goes from a very powerful 8c+ into a strange no-hand rest before climbing further into a 9a+. According to Schubert, there is a fantastic 8B boulder problem, as well as a 7C+ compression boulder towards the end.
That might interest you
- For once, Schubert upgrades instead of depreciating Clash of the Titans (9b)
- Jakob Schubert climbs Alphane (9A) | Climbing year of superlatives
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Credits: Cover picture Alpsolut Pictures