New route in Greenland | Jernej Kruder, Silvan Schupbach & Filippo Sala open “Sila” (7c/A2+)

A summer trip with a twist: Jernej Kruder, along with Silvan Schupbach and Filippo Sala, established a new route in South Greenland from July 26th to 28th, 2026. Spread over 19 pitches and 600 meters of climbing, the trio left behind only one bolt.

What do you do when it's the height of summer but your body isn't ready for tough alpine climbing? That's what the Slovenian professional climber was asking himself at the end of July. Jernej Kruder, who last year achieved several difficult first ascents and repeats in Chile, Canada and Norway.

Kruder then spontaneously decided to travel to Greenland – an unusual and largely unexplored climbing destination. He traveled there together with two Swiss professional climbers. Silvan Schupbach and Filippo Sala as well as the photographer Hugo Vincent. The goal of the expedition led by Schupbach: the first ascent of a multi-pitch route in the glacier and fjord landscape in the south of the country.

^{Greenland Adventure | Pictures: Hugo Vincent}

Greenland extreme: "The weather was not on our side"

The trio quickly learned what it's like to blaze a new trail in Greenland's wilderness. The weather, with its persistent rain, was not on Kruder, Schupbach, and Sala's side, forcing them to postpone their start several times and ultimately, given the limited time remaining, even abandoning their attempt. change the project had to.

The 600-meter-long route, which the three would later name "Sila," is located quite isolated in one of the fjords in southern Greenland at the Baroness WallOn July 26th, conditions finally allowed for an attempt.

Only one bolt every 600 meters

Over the next three days, Kruder, Schupbach and Sala climbed the 600-meter-long line. almost completely freeThey established 19 rope lengths with a maximum difficulty level of 7c. Only one rope length had to be used in technical climbing (A2+) The challenge was overcome. In keeping with the spirit of preserving nature, the three climbers left behind as little equipment as possible – just a single bolt.

On July 28th, the trio reached the summit at 19:30 p.m. and, after a short snack break, rappelled back down to base camp. However, there was no big celebration: early the next morning, precisely at the turn of the tide, they were scheduled to board a boat back to civilization. For Kruder, who left earlier than his colleagues from Switzerland, the return flight to Slovenia also meant being greeted by the current heat wave.

"Sila": one with the forces of nature

The name "Sila," which the three gave to the route, has two meanings: In Greenlandic, it describes the idea that Man, nature and the universe are inextricably linked are. In Slovenian, the name means something like "strength." Kruder sees this as a reflection of the trio's combined efforts under adverse conditions: "I am proud of my responsible team on this trip and grateful that they let me lead most of the pitches," said the Slovenian.

^{Images: Jernej Kruder/Hugo Vincent}

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Credits cover photo: Hugo Vincent