Nalle Hukkataival finally got it - The Understanding

15th June, 2013

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Nalle Hukkataival on The Understanding at Magic Wood, Switzerland © Stefan Schlumpf — Nalle Hukkataival on The Understanding at Magic Wood, Switzerland
© Stefan Schlumpf

Nalle Hukkataival, from Helsinki, Finland, has made the first ascent of one of the most longstanding projects at Magic Wood in the Graubündener Averstal, Switzerland.

The Understanding is one of the most striking lines in the area, and also one of the first to be cleaned and brushed back when it was discovered more than a decade ago by the likes of Thomas "Steini" Steinbrugger, Bernd Zangerl and friends. I know for a fact Nalle was there as early as 2004, because I told him the beta for Die unendliche Geschichte 1 (not that I had any chance on it myself).

On his blog Nalle writes:

"This trip I finally unlocked a sequence that I've tried a few times over the years without success. After spending a few days trying the line this trip, today I finally topped it out and the The Understanding was born!
Going through the process of doubting if it's possible to standing on top of the boulder was a big thing for me and it's hard to imagine a more perfect boulder problem!

He doesn't say anything about the difficulty of the problem, but I wouldn't be surprised if this is yet another 8C-contribution to Magic Wood and the world.