Difficult winter climb in Scotland by Isaksson and Zgraggen

The duo travelled to Scotland after Isaksson had savoured the Highland's delights for the first time during the 2014 BMC Winter Meet. They set the ball rolling on the February 27th by ascending Magic Crack at Coire an t-Sneachda and the next day they headed straight to Stob Coire nan Lochan to try a line Isaksson had noticed during the meeting: a striking corner opposite Slenderhead.

Isaksson and Zgraggen climbed 3 pitches, the first offering technically sustained moves with difficult protection, to reach the top of a large slanting ledge. From here easy terrain leads to the top of the mountain but Zgraggen began to show signs of hypothermia and they wisely opted to descend. The route has been named Eggäschpili and graded (IX,9) but since this is only Isaksson's sixth winter route in Scotland (and Zgraggen's first), they underline that his is only a tentative suggestion.

Future ascentionsits will obviously shed more light but, regardless of the grade, this is an important addition to the cliff. Writing on Scottishwinter.com, Simon Richardson puts the ascent into perspective: From a history writer’s perspective, Eggäschpili is arguably the most important new route of the 2014 winter season (so far). Very few overseas parties have succeeded on adding cutting edge new Scottish winter routes, and Olov and Karin’s remarkable ascent joins a very short list that includes Raven’s Gully Direct Finish (Yvon Chouinard - Doug Tompkins 1970), French Connection (François Damilano - Lewale 1995), Happy Tyroleans (Florian Schranz, Heinz Zak, Egon Netzer, 2001) and Bavarinthia (Ines Papert - Charly Fritzer 2011).