Cima Grande di Lavaredo, Reiner Kauschke at 80 reclimbs his Superdirectissima

Cima Grande di Lavaredo, North Face, January 1963. After just only two days of preparation, in a freezing 17-day single push the alpinists Peter Siegert, Reiner Kauschke and Gert Uhner made the first ascent of the Superdirectissima in the midst of winter. With their resolve strengthened after having made the first winter ascent of the famous Hasse Brandler two years earlier, the three Saxons endured temperatures down to -20°C as they forged their line directly through the fall line, using 450 pegs and 25 pressure bolts.

The resulting Superdirectissima, or Via dei Sassoni, attracted the interest of the mainstream media, but also caused controversial in the mountaineering community as questions were raised regarding the amount of gear used. Regardless, the route marked the apex of the direttissima period and remains a testing climb even today.

And even two days ago, when the now 80-year-old Kauschke returned to repeat "his" route with local mountain guide Christoph Hainz. Incredibly, the two required just 17 hours, demonstrating Kauschke’s out-of-the-ordinary hardening. Hainz's comment after the ascent: "80 years old and not tired in the slightest. What a superb effort Reiner!"



Link: FB Christoph Hainz, www.christoph-hainz.com, www.salewa.it