Greenland climbing expedition success for Ragni di Lecco

Where can you climb for 24 hours non-stop, where there's an infinite number of walls to be explored and where nature still dictates the rythm of life? The answer for those in the know is but one: Greenland. This is exactly where the Ragni di Lecco climbers Simone Pedeferri, Matteo Della Bordella, Lorenzo "Pala" Lanfranchi and the photographer cum mountaineer Richard Felderer have just returned from.

The results of this expedition are 5 new routes in 20 days and an experience which an unusually loquacious Pedeferri described as "very beautiful, also aesthetically speaking" And if this climber-artist holds this opinion, then it must be true. Also because he immediatly stated that the Tasiilaq fiord, where they established their base camp, is one of the most beautiful and wild he's ever seen. He added that the granite walls in the Fox Jaw Cirque are "fantastic with truly superb rock." He concluded by uttering the words all alpinists dream of "You're so isolated and there are still so many walls to be climbed, it seems as if you're in Patagonia 30 years ago."

A wild an untouched territory therefore. So wild that "it's nature who dictates the rules" explains Pedeferri. Just like in all the rest of Greenland where "ice enters people's homes and you feel as if you're on a different planet for these environmental reasons, because here nature still holds the upper hand." As unbeatable as the "absurd number of mosquitoes that infested our little base camp." But this, it seems, was just an insignificant detail because "there weren't any mosquitoes on the rock faces and you could climb for 20 hours non-stop, seeing that there was constant daylight. What you usually achieve in three days you manage in just one..."

Talking about climbing and new routes. The first route, climbed by all four members, is called 'Emozione Polare' and climbs a 700m pillar which Pedeferri described as "perfect on extraordinary rock, one of the most beautiful routes I know." The four ascended the line in a 26 hour push from base camp to summit and back, with difficulties up to VIII, just one bolt on the route and only some belays equipped for the abseils.

Using the minimum amount of gear was a fundamental aspect of the style of ascent they aimed to achieve. "We wanted to climb clean, "British style", on-sight and without leaving a trace" explained Pedeferri who together with Lanfranconi went on to produce 'El cavajo dell'angel' (430m, 7b, 16 hours on-sight, trad) and 'Il Gemello Diverso' (630m, 7b, 20 hours on-sight, trad).

Della Bordella and Felderer spent two days making the first ascent of 'Ingirumimusnocte' a beautiful 420m line with difficulties up to 7b+ (6c+ obl). Although they placed 28 bolts including those for the belays, this is a truly psychological outing with long run-outs between one bolt and the next. Della Bordella and Felderer then climbed 'Qui, nell'universo'(480m, VI, trad) dedicated to their friend Marcello Meroni.

"We didn't think we'd be able to climb 'El cavajo dell'angel' without bolts, but in the end we managed, probably thanks to all our combined experience" stated Pedeferri. Talking about experience, Pedeferri then complimented the other climbers and in particular Matteo Della Bordella who, despite being on his first expedition (or perhaps because of this) proved completely unstoppable. "Matteo has attributes which I've rarely seen in other climbers: he really is talented and is incredibly at ease when on-sighting on a big rock face... He has a pure an insatiable passion for climbing." And then... and then the climber-artist concluded "Yes, I'm really happy. In Greenland I really felt free to climb!" And as everyone knows, there is nothing better (or almost nothing better) for a climber than this!


THE FIRST ASCENTS

Emozione Polare
Lanfranchi, Pedeferri, Della Bordella, Felderer
680 mt. diff: VIII
15 pitchs, one bolt in the route, some belays with in-situ gear
26 hour push from base camp and return

Ingirumimusnocte
Della Bordella, Felderer in two days (20 + 18 hours circa)
420 mt, diff: 7b+ (6c+ obbl)
28 bolts in total

El cavajo dell'angel
Pedeferri, Lanfranchi
420 mt. diff: 7b+ (trad)
Aperta a vista in 16 ore

Il Gemello Diverso
Lanfranchi, Pedeferri
630 mt. diff: 7b (trad)
On-sight, 20 hours
No in-situ gear

Qui, nell'universo
In memory of Marcello Meroni
Felderer, Della Bordella
480 mt diff: VI
No in-situ gear