Ben Dare Solos New Winter Mixed on New Zealand Wall

Ben Dare recently soloed a new route on the east face of Fastness Peak at M5 A1 WI5 for 700 metres. The 2,383-metre wall is remote and hadn’t seen an ascent in two decades. On Facebook, Dare wrote, “The climb was sustained throughout, primarily on thin alpine ice and neve with several mixed rock steps and snow benches between.

“Largely to avoid the spin drift coming down the gullies of the central face I followed a line right of the two existing routes and topped out high on the North Ridge. I then continued up the upper ridge to the fore summit, before descending down the East Ridge back into Rainbow Stream. It was an amazing climb, but one that really pushed me and truly reinforced how truly wild the mountains in New Zealand can be.” More of the story and photos here.