Watch Babsi Send 5.14d Before It Gets Quarried Into Building Blocks
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Need some Monday motivation? Black Diamond just dropped nine minutes of 9a climbing with Austrian powerhouse, Babsi Zangerl.
The route in question, Sprengstoff (9a/5.14d), is the result of a “legendary 30-year-old project”, one that was put to bed by Zangerl’s partner, Jacopo Larcher, in November 2020. Black Diamond writes, “Located near Babsi’s home in Bludenz, Austria, Lorüns is a sport climbing crag that’s home to decades’ old historical routes. [It’s] described as a ‘meeting point’ for both the old and younger generations of the Austrian climbing community.”
But this idyllic crag may not be climbable for much longer. As you’ll see in the video, Lorüns hosts steep walls on both sides of the crag: On one aspect, limestone edges provide climbers an inspiring setting to try hard. On the other, an ever-expanding quarry threatens to completely demolish the venue. This past year, Zangerl committed herself to making Sprengstoff’s second ascent, “in part to push her climbing, but also to use her ascent to drive awareness to the crag’s impending threat.”
To sign a petition to save Lorüns, please visit here.