Babsi Zangerl repeats a rock-hard trad line in Yosemite Valley with Magic Line (8c+). After Hazel Findlay, she is only the second woman to have achieved this.
The fact that she is one of the strongest trad climbers in the world has Babsi Zangerl has already proven this several times. On her last trip to Yosemite, for example, she climbed Meltdown (8c+). This year she was able to repeat another iconic crack line: Magic Line (8c +).
What a line, what a journey!
Babsi Zangerl
Magic Line and the Lessons for Life
After a slip of the foot, the key section of Magic Line became very unsafe, says the Tyrolean. "I wasn't sure if I would have the strength to hold out." She slipped countless times, and each time her confidence dwindled a little. Nevertheless, one thing was clear to Babsi Zangerl: "After investing so much time in this line, I just couldn't give up."
To be honest, it's exactly these climbs that make her appreciate climbing even more. "Every challenge, every setback, all of that adds to the journey, and the lessons you learn along the way are invaluable."
After completing Magic Line, Babsi Zangerl emphasized how incredibly lucky she was to be able to experience such moments: "When climbing, there is so much room for growth and with every struggle comes the chance to surprise yourself if you are ready to try again!"
Magic Line: 6 ascents in 28 years
The 35-meter-long Magic Line route, with a difficulty level of 8c+, is not only one of the most difficult lines in Yosemite Valley, but also one of the most difficult crack lines in the world. The line, first climbed by Ron Kauk in 1996, has only been repeated five times in the past 28 years: in 2018 by Lonnie Kauk, in 2019 by Hazel Findlay, 2022 from Carlo Traversi and 2024 by Connor Herson and Babsi Zangerl.
That might interest you
- Babsi Zangerl climbs the hardest trad line of her life: Meltdown (8c+)
- Babsi Zangerl: “That was the most shocking moment of the whole route”
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Credits: Cover picture Jacopo Larcher