Babsi Zangerl has repeated Scotland's first E9, Dave MacLeod's Achemine (E9 6c), E9 6c, at Dumbarton Rock. Dave made the first ascent in 2001 and as far as I can tell, this was the first repeat!
© Babzi Zangerl
From Babsi's instagram: After two big falls I was on the way to the top of Achemine. I think it is the first repetition.
At the time Dave described the route:
The route is called Achemine, which is a french word meaning to go forwards and the grade is E9 6c. It is a direct finish to Chemin De Fer, but I think the label "direct finish" doesn't really do the line justice. I think the headwall above Chemin De Fer describes it better as there are a lot of moves up there! I first tried it last September and it took two days on the shunt to be able to do the individual moves. I worked on it sporadically last autumn and this spring, but still couldnt link it on the top rope. I finally did link it this September and got on the lead a few days later. I figured I'd better get straight on the lead as I new I could never get to the stage of top roping it every go, I might as well get on the sharp end and if I was lucky, it would be done. I reckon it is F8b to top rope, being harder than Digital Quartz and Voodoo Magic, and miles harder than things like Spiral Tribe or Cease Fire.
Babsi is one of the most accomplished allround climbers in the world and has bouldered 8A+/B (Pura vida), sport climbed 8c+ (Harry's dirty brother), climbed 8b+/c multi pitch (Bellavista) and E9/10 trad (Prinzip Hoffnung).
She was the first female to complete the famous Alpine trilogy:
Kaisers neue Kleider (Wilder Kaiser AUT) (6c+,7c+,8a+/b,7b+,8b+,8a,6b,8b+,6c)
Silbergeier (Rätikon CH) (8b,7c+,8a+,7a+,8b+,7c+)
End of Silence (Berchtesgaden DE) (7a+,6c,6a+,6a,7b+,7c+,7b,8b,8b/+,7c,7a+)
Barbara Zangerl is sponsored by: Black Diamond, Climbskin, La Sportiva, Smith Optics and Sterling Rope
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