FA ‘Erebor’ 9b/+ by Stefano Ghisolfi

The currently best Italian climber Stefano Ghisolfi sent his greatest home project ‘Erebor’ and proposed the grade of 9b/+. Stefano posted on his Instagram-account, that the route is the hardest he’s climbed in Italy and in fact the hardest route in Italy. He tried for the first time last June and after summer he started trying some attempts but only in the new year he was able to clip the chain, after falling at the last moves more than 10 times.

Also he’s already bolted an even harder variant with the “The Lonely Mountain” project. This is Ghisolfi’s seventh ascent graded 9b or harder.

“It has been a crazy process, begun after the first lockdown, bolted with the help (and the drill) of @sevescassa and tried for the first time last June, I immediately realized it was nearly impossible. After summer I started trying some attempts but only in the new year I was able to clip the chain, after falling at the last moves more than 10 times.
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In my opinion I never climbed in Italy something as hard as this route, but I still think it doesn’t reach the full 9b+ comparing it to Change or Perfecto Mundo. Therefore my grade suggestion is 9b/+ that makes it the hardest route in Italy and my proudest first ascent, and I’m looking forward someone will come and repeat it soon!
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Last but not least, this is the “easier” variant of the route, and I already bolted a much harder version. This is another story (but I already thought “The Lonely Mountain” project would be a great name for that one.”

Photo: (c) Sara Grippo