New 450-metre Patagonia Big Wall Route

Alessandro Baù, Matteo Della Bordella and Mirco Grasso have made the first ascent of a new 450-metre big wall-style route on Aguja Val Biois in Patagonia’s Fitz Roy range.

The three climbers, who had never all climbed together before, named their new line ¿Quién sigue? and graded it 7a A1, which is 5.11d A1 in North American grades. Their new climb ascends a line next to a 2018 route called La Torcida.

“Commencing the season in Patagonia with this route was a good start, even if the weather didn’t help us,” said Della Bordella in an email. “We made the most of the good weather window, even if the conditions were very cold and difficult. The route was a real adventure, and our team worked well together.”  This is the first time Della Bordella, Grasso and Baù have climbed together.

They made the first ascent during a good weather window, the last before a series of storms descends on the area. Alpinist Colin Haley, who’s in Patagonia this season, said this about the weather this week: “For better or worse, there is finally a sustained period of bad weather in the forecast, so we have plenty of time to rest now.”