Beat Kammerlander comes to the UK

The Austrian climber Beat Kammerlander is currently road tripping in the UK hoping to climb some of the best lines that the weather will permit. He was recently found in Hathersage in the Peak District looking for the correct size Tri Cam to fit the shot holes on the famous E7 Masters Edge at Millstone.

Beat Kammerlander is not a well known name in British climbing circles. In Europe however his name is synonymous with nearly 30 years of cutting edge climbing. Now over 50, Kammerlander was responsible for some of the hardest routes in Buoux and Verdon in the 80’s, then moved onto alpine rock climbs in the Austrian Raitkon in the 90’s. It was during this period that he climbed the infamous WoGu (named in honour of Wolfgang Gullich) a 230m long alpine route with climbing between 8a+ and 8c. Throughout these two decades and recently he has focused strongly on the ethics of his climbing, often taking a ground up approach to his longer routes.

Lately he has become well known for climbing hard routes using only traditional protection. One of the biggest and hardest of these routes was Prinzip Hoffnung, climbed earlier this year. This is an 8b/8b+ that Kammerlander first climbed 10 years ago with bolts but which he recently repeated with only small wires for protection (making it possibly E9/E10).

With only 7 days planned for his trip to the UK and some of the worst weather possible forecast we hope that he gets to touch some dry rock! So far the Peak District has not had much to offer in this department with some top roping of Gaia and the End of the Affair being the only climbing he’s been able to manage. When asked what other plans he had for his week long trip he mentioned Wales and possibly a trip to Devon to try the contentiously graded The Walk Of Life (E9-E12?). Whatever he gets to climb we wish him the best of luck.

For more information on Prinzip Hoffnung click here

For more information on Beat Kammerlander click here

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