On 29/04 the Austrian climber Hansjörg Auer (23) carried out the second solo ascent of the legendary Via attraverso il Pesce (aka The Fish) on the south face of the Marmolada, the Dolomites, after Maurizio Giordan's 1990 ascent (who self-belayed on some pitches). This is the first free solo without ropes.

900 metres, with difficulties up to Fr 7b+, 33 pitches in 2 hours 55 minutes.

Auer said:

"During my solo though the most demanding pitch turned out to be the first of the hardest pitches. The pitches after the niche are steeper and every now and then there are some single finger pockets which need to be locked deep. Difficulties ease off above the ledge, but the quality of the rock deteriorates. The actual climbing is often highly uncompromising and requires great determination."

Full report, interview and photos at Planet Mountain