This year’s annual meeting of the young alpinist teams (DAV-Expedkader) took place in the mysterious sandstone towers of Elbsandstein, Germany. The climbing is outlandishly different – other than sparse ring bolts, only textile materials can be used for protection. You are guaranteed butterflies in your stomach when trusting your life to jammed knots and “Ufo’s” (a textile caming device). Known as the cradle of free climbing, any use of artificial means for progression was banned more than 100 years ago. The first grade VI (5.9) route was climbed in 1906 and until the Second World War all the hardest free climbs in the world were there.
Thanks to the German Alpine Club for the great organisation!
One of the local climbers introducing us to the art of Elbsandstein climbing. © Nicolas Altmaier.
© Nicolas Altmaier.
Esther practicing how to place a jammed knot.
Vroni climbing “Feuerwand” at Affensteine.
Life of Pi 