Christof Rauch returns in the old form after a long injury and corona lock down and can climb his eleventh 8C boulder with „Total Blackout“. The amateur boulderer first ascented  the Boulder in his home crag in Zillertal. „A dream came true! For sure the hardest line in my home valley and a real power-endurance testpiece! Started the journey 5 years ago with the FA of „Nussknacker sit“ (8B+). Back then the start from further left wasn‘t possible due to a lot of stuck driftwood. Last year most of the driftwood was finally gone. I put away the rest and found some perfectly shaped holds. After two sessions I did the FA of „Black Water“ (8A+) but linking this into „Nussknacker“ wasn’t realistic at that time because of a lack of fitness after my finger injury. Nevertheless I was willing to put in the necessary work. I did a few sessions last autumn and a few more this spring. Then I got stopped by the lockdown in middle of March. But with this goal in my mind I trained really hard at home. One month later the restrictions got less and I was able to try it again. Can’t be more happy and proud to make the first ascent of this great line. Thanks to my friend @_tom._.tom_ for this great shot from last October.“ Photo: (c) Thomas Lindinger