Proj.

The Upper Austrian Prealps hold a special place in my climbing heart, especially a particular crag where 'The Iron Will' (an unconfirmed 8a/8a+ project) has been taunting me. It's a brutal line, about 25 meters of slightly overhanging limestone, riddled with heinous crimps and a particularly desperate dyno at the two-thirds mark. Weeks, no, months, I’d poured into it. Each session was a cycle of hope, pump, and plummet. The dyno felt impossible, an insurmountable gap in the otherwise meticulously pieced-together beta. Then, one crisp autumn morning, everything just clicked. The air was still, the rock felt perfect. I moved through the lower section with newfound fluidity, conserving energy. Reaching the dyno, I didn't hesitate. A split-second decision, a precise launch, and my fingers slapped the elusive sloper. A desperate lock-off, a shuffle of feet, and then the final easier slab to the chains. Clipping the anchor, a wave of relief, exhaustion, and pure elation washed over me. Looking out over the rolling hills of the Prealps, the achievement felt even sweeter. 'The Iron Will' was finally redpointed. What a journey.

Location