Davide Picco sends Ultimatum (9a+) at Massone, Arco, Italy

Let's say that Stefano Ghisolfi's Ultimatum was not on the list of routes I intended to climb this year. I’d decided to use it as training for my summer holidays at Rodellar, since I needed a warm, humid crag which plenty of stamina climbs. I have to say though it was a great choice: conditions in Spain were exactly the same at Massone, full on 40°C ;-) Given the temperatures, the Spain climbing trip turned out to be a fairly relaxing holiday, although I still managed to send the historic Pata Negra which now, after a hold broke, is given 8c/+.

As to Ultimatum, after a few Saturdays spread out over a couple of months I started to fall right at the chain, and so I said to myself "At the point, I may as well get it done." After the summer holiday I started training, practically only indoors in view of the competitions, and when I returned to Massone last week I had no expectations whatsoever. All of a sudden though I clipped the chain! I can confirm that the middle of summer is not the best time of year to send something hard at Arco!

by Davide Picco

DAVIDE PICCO 9a OR HARDER
10/2017 - Thunder ribes 9a, Massone, Arco
05/2018 - Underground 9a, Massone, Arco
10/2019 - Under Vibes 9a, Massone, Arco
07/2019 - Biologico 9a, Rovereto
05/2019 - Pure dreaming 8c+/9a, Massone, Arco
07/2020 - Pure dreaming Plus 9a/+, Massone, Arco
03/2021 - Omen Nomen 9a, Padaro, Arco
09/2022 - Ultimatum 9a+, Massone, Arco

IMPORTANT STAGES
first 8a Incantesimo, Covolo 2013
first 8a+ Le dita di Pietro, Covolo 2014
first 8b La notte, Covolo 2014
first 8b+ Mare allucinante, Lumignano 2015
first 8c Mr. Teroldego, Narango 2015
first 8c+ Super Alé, Covolo 2019
first 9a Thunder ribes, Massone 2017
first 9a+ Pure Dreaming Plus, Massone, 2020

Davide thanks: SCARPA

Link: FB Davide Picco