The Drei Zinne (Tre Cime di Lavaredo) seen from the Drei Zinne Hutte, a good place to stay for climbing one of the north faces of the Drei Zinne
On our way to the northside of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo to climb the Fehrmann Kamin on the Kleine Zinne, the smallest of the three impressive peaks
Preparing for the Fehrmann kamin on the northern side of the Kleine Zinne. My climbing partner Peter Gerard on the left and second team Bart van den Dries and Koen de Ridder to the right
Peter Gerard leading in the first easy part of the Fehrmann Kamin on the Kleine Zinne
Peter as second on the higher part of the Fehrmann Kamin while bad weather with a violent thunderstorm is closing in fast. There is hardly any protection and we're rushing to get to the top before the rain will hit us and make the route impossible to climb
The mist has closed us in close to the summit of the Kleine Zinne. The thunder is surrounding the summit area and the iron cross on the summit is sparkling with st Elmus fire.. While the second team with Koen de Ridder and Bart van den Dries is still climbing in the northface we're rushing to find a place to hide.
Just beneath the summit we get into a small corner and we try to hide for the storm. Hail covers the horizontal parts of the mountain in a heartbeat. Lighting hits very close on the summit and we just hope our friends are safe. We have to wait for the storm to finish before we can do something to get them out of the northface..
After the storm, we manage to throw ropes to Bart van den Dries and Koen de Ridder so they can climb the last part of the now snow covered mountain... After the storm two others teams nearby have to be saved by helicopter.. Koen later will get an electric shock when lightning hits the summit and flashes through our wet rope while rapelling down...
Drying our clothes and gear at the Drei Zinne Hutte after our climb of the Fehrmann kamin on the Kleine zinne (left one)
Our next target is the notorious 550 meter high nortface on the middle and highest of the three mountains, Cima Grande di Lavaredo
We leave early in the morning (05 o clock) to the base of the northface of the Cima Grande di Lavaredo. With two teams of two climbers (Bart van den Dries - Koen de Ridder) and Peter Gerard and myself we're heading for the traditional Comici route in the northface
Koen de Ridder of the second team on the first belay
Peter Gerard leading the first hard pitch
Peter gerard leading the first hard pitch
Peter leading the first hard pitch
Bart van den Dries taking a pee on a small ledge at one third of the climb..
Peter Gerard on a belay in the mid section of the northface of the Cima Grande
The second team following us at some distance.. here Koen de Ridder is leading
Koen de Ridder of the second team leading a pitch in the hard mid section of the impressive and steep northface
Peter trying to find a way out of the overhanging section of the northface into the black rock of the upper section..
Peter keeping an eye on me..
The upper section of the northface has some less steeper parts which are made of bad and crumbling rocks..
We traverse to the left to get into more solid rock
It's a sunny day but the northface is cold and dark
Resting on the ledge leading to the summit we can watch Bart and Koen climbing the last steep part of the route..
Waiting for the second team to come up we enjoy the sun close to the summit
Cinque Torri
Cramps on a small ledge in the northface of the Westliche Zinne (Schweizer fuhre).. Shit happens.. bad timing.. I don't envy the next climbers
Dirk leading in the first pitch of the Gigantic roof of the Schweizer Fuhre on the Northface of the Cima Ovest di Lavaredo
Dirk leading the first impressive pitch of the Gigantic roof of the Schweizer Fuhre on the Northface of the Cima Ovest di Lavaredo
First belay in the crazy overhang of the Schweizer fuhre on the Northface of the Cima Ovest di Lavaredo
Peter Gerard, my climbing partner on steep rock during many years
me leading the first pitch of the 50 m upside down stairway in the northface of the Westliche zinne northface.. Quality of the pegs is very doubtful
Me leading on the last part of the enormous overhang of the Westliche Zinne.. We already past the point of no return for long time but we're almost on safer ground now since in case of an accident rescue teams could reach us from above..
The route through the northface of the Westliche Zinne passing the 50 m overhang (the Riesendach) halfway just underneath the big black spot
An upside down stairway of 40-50 meter - three rope lenghts to climb - upsd
An upside down stairway of 40-50 meter - three rope lenghts to climb - upsd
The first pictures I ever saw of the 'Riesendach' was in an old magazine dealing which the different scales of difficulties.. This pictures illustrated the upper scale of artificial climbing in those days and I was hooked... One day I had to climb this gigantic overhang!
The northface of the Cima Ovest Di Lavaredo... The black spot is where the melting water runs down
Erik Tanghe in the Diretissima on the northface of Cima Grande di Lavaredo at the age of 20
Erik Tanghe in the Diretissima on the northface of Cima Grande di Lavaredo at the age of 20
Peter Gerard in a very exposed length of the 'Herman Buhl Gedachtnisweg' in the Rotwand
Erik Tanghe leading the crux in the Gelbe kante, anticima route..
The route throught the north face of the Westliche Zinne. The little circle halfway is the spot where we spent the night