Keyword: going it alone

Jost Kobusch reached the highest peak in North America on Sunday. The German alpinist is the first non-American to solo climb Denali in winter and the first person to do so via the Messner Couloir.

In January 1979, the Italian Renato Casarotto opened one of the most difficult alpine routes in Patagonia at the time: the Goretta Pillar on Fitz Roy. Last week, alpinist Colin Haley, known for his daring solo ascents, repeated the 1200-meter route single-handedly. In contrast to the first ascent, he completely dispensed with permanently installed ropes for his rope solo.

In 2011, Alex Honnold realized what was then the most difficult rope-free ascent in Yosemite Valley with his free solo from The Phoenix (7c +). More than ten years later, filmmaker Peter Mortimer publishes the video of the radical solo effort. A personal and breathtaking look behind the scenes of this solo.

The Swiss professional alpinist Roger Schäli opens the trad route Tierra del Fuego (A2+, 6c) on the Roda Val della Neve in Bergell alone over five days. The demanding line - only equipped with bolts at the belay - follows a system of cracks in the right part of the wall.

The young South Tyrolean alpinist Jonas Hainz manages the free solo ascent of Moulin Rouge (400m, 7b) on the Croda Rossa. The line through the imposing and overhanging wall in the Rosengarten group was set up 20 years ago by his father Christoph Hainz together with Oswald Celva.

The 35-year-old South Tyrolean Simon Gietl manages the first solo ascent of the winter traverse on the Three Peaks in the Dolomites.