Leap of Faith freed on Poncione d'Alnasca by Matteo Della Bordella, Alessandro Zeni

On the steep south face of Poncione d’Alnasca, high above Val Verzasca in Switzerland, Italian climbers Matteo Della Bordella and Alessandro Zeni have made the first free ascent of Leap of Faith. The 500m route takes a line on the lefthand side of the granite pyramid and was established ground-up by Della Bordella with Davide Bacci and Luca Auguadri between 2015 and 2016. Protected with a mix of wires, cams and bolts where absolutely necessary, the 16-pitch outing breaches difficulties up to 8a+/b max and 7b+ obligatory.

In 2018 Della Bordella teamed up with various other climbing partners and managed to free all the individual pitches except for one, which he barely managed to toprope, and due to various commitments he had to wait until this summer to return. Della Bordella was joined this time by Alessandro Zeni, on firing form and fresh from the first ascent of Cryptography at Saint Loup in Switzerland, famous for being the only 9b slab in the world. Ascending with a portaledge and in true big wall style the two worked the pitches at the end of September, then returned in October to close the circle with the route’s first free ascent.

For all the details of the project and the huge dyno on pitch 10 that gives the route its name, check out the Karpos website where you can also listen to Della Bordella's interesting podcast.

TOPO: Leap of Faith, Poncione d'Alnasca, Switzerland

>> Click here for more info by Della Bordella and Zeni on www.karpos-outdoor.com