New Epic Ice Climbed in Velunga Valley
This area tucked into the Dolomites offers some of the best December ice climbing in Europe
Greg Boswell and Jonathon Joly have spent the past week climbing some steep and technical ice and mixed climbs in the Velunga Valley of Italy’s Dolomites.
They started up the four-pitch test-piece Flauto Magico, an M9 WI6 first climbed by Hannes Lehmayr in 2004. Each pitch offers exposed climbing, read more about the classic line here.
Boswell and Joly then climbed Once in a Lifetime with Boswell saying, “I think I’m falling in love with this place. Everywhere I look I see cool looking lines and even better looking views. Day two of the quick hit trip today and it was another stunner.” It was first climbed in 2018 by Daniel Ladurner, Hannes Lemayr and Florian Riegler.
From Once in a Lifetime, they spotted a new line which they climbed the next day. It follows three pitches of ice daggers connected through rock roofs that Boswell and Joly protected with trad gear. They haven’t announced a name or grade but it looks stout.
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