Ines Papert, Luka Lindič climb new route up Mt. Huntington in Alaska

Alpinists Ines Papert and Luka Lindič are currently in the Central Alaska Range where in the space of just a few days they climbed the formidable west face of Mt. Huntington not just once, but twice.

Their first time on top of the striking 3,731-meter-high granite peak came after repeating the Colton-Leach, established in 1981 by British mountaineers Nick Colton and Tim Leach and repeated by the pair in 12 hours from base to summit. During their descent Papert and Lindič noticed an enticing line and, after a short rest, they made their alpine-style first ascent of the line they have now called Heart of Stone.

The new route is located between the Colton-Leach and the Westface couloir further to the right. Just over 1000 meters high and with difficulties up to M7, it was climbed with one bivouac circa 200 meters below the summit. The duo reached the bivy at 3:00am in the morning and, after resting, reached the summit the next day and descended before the onset of bad weather.

After the ascent Lindič explained: "Every single moment on the route was simply pure alpine climbing magic. Always interesting and sometimes a bit spicy climbing, bivy in full moon and perfect summit weather the second day." His wife declared "It is one of those routes, that make you feel proud. It’s a superb climb and highly recommended."

Link: IG Ines Papert, FB Ines Papert, inespapert.com, IG Luca Lindič, FB Luca Lindič, CAMP