The Franconian Moritz Welt can climb his hardest routewith „Thor’s Hammer“ 9a / + in the Hanshallaren cave near Flatanger in Norway and is getting closer to his goal of climbing a 9a + route. The route bolted in by Magnus Midtbø was first ascented by Adam Ondra almost ten years ago and was originally graded 9a + by him, but is now more likely to be 9a/+.

„My main objective of this trip has finally come down! And it turned out to be one of the biggest fights I’ve ever had, mentally and physically. For 3 weeks I only struggled with the first 10 meters out of the total 60. But since the rest of the route is still crazy hard, I didn’t even know how it’ll go as soon as I pass this first crux. Well, 3 days ago, after changing my beta multiple times I somehow managed to do so and surprisingly I made my way even through the second and third crux, and reached the final rail. I was afraid to fall there and that’s exactly what happened, 2 meters below the chains, 5 moves of ~7a to go.
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I didn’t know if I would be able to pass all the cruxes again in only 2 more climbing days, but the will to send was stronger than the fear. On the next climbing day I came back, fell on the first crux once, and finally, on the second go of the day, I fought up the whole 60 meters to the top.
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This is for sure the most rewarding send I’ve ever made, and another big step for me to reach a new level. Grade-wise, I will go for the 9a+, although some people considered it to be rather soft. It simply felt one step above any 9a I’ve done, so for me at least the consensus of 9a/+ must be fitting.
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Thanks for the support and the good times! @miro.enzenberger @marius_jauernik @franze37″

Photo: (c) Franz Kaiser