15 Feb First winter ascent of L Cator in Odle Group

 
Both Alpine Guides of the famous Catores team of Wolkenstein-Val Gardena and successful alpinists, Holzknecht and Moroder carried out the first winter repetition of L Cator, the most difficult route of the Parete Rossa di Brogles in the Odle Group. L Cator was completed in 1989 by the brothers Karl and Benno Vinatzer and Holzknecht himself (VIII A2 trad protections) The itinerary is very attractive on a overhanging, beautiful wall of 200 m. The ascent was done on a low temperature (-7 degrees , the wall is full N exposed); at the exit they had to perforate with the hammer a big corniche 2 m high. During last winters, the two climbers carried out the first winter ascents of two others routes of the wall: Franz Runggaldier, (Adam Holzknecht with Karl Unterkircher 1997 VIII-) and Rudi Runggaldier VI e A2, an artificial route 1985 of Simon Demetz and Simon Holzknecht.