New Drytool Route has 145 Moves Along Roof
While it's the hardest drytool route ever, the grade of D15 requires a lot of strength and stamina
Filip Babicz has made the first ascent of Persefone Extension, a steep drytool route in the Gran Borna cave of La Thuile, Italy. The climb is nearly 60 metres, has over 80 holds and 145 moves. Babicz graded it D15.
“This characteristic of the route, the most difficult movements right at the end, after 45m of climbing, made the battle tougher than expected,” Babicz said. “So far, no drytooling route has required such determination from me. In the last period, from mid-April I was always falling at the end.”
Babicz is known for his speed ascents, in 2020 he soloed Peuterey’s L’Integralissima in the Mont Blanc massif in 17 hours, and Aiguille Noire de Peuterey in one and a half hours. In 2021, he soloed the North Ridge of Pizzo Badile in 42 minutes. And in 2022, he soloed Grand Capucin in the Mont Blanc massif in only 49 minutes. He climbed the Swiss Route with the O Sole Mio exit, a popular granite alpine line covering 570 metres of rock.
“What a journey,” said Babicz. “With this achievement, another important chapter of the exploration of Gran Borna closes.”
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