Spring sends from Istria

photo @ new sector Iznad oblaka in Raspadalica

Spring sends from Istria

Spring has arrived in Istria, bringing perfect conditions, fresh developments, and an impressive list of hard sends across all three parts of the peninsula.

New sector in Raspadalica: Iznad oblaka (Above the Clouds)

A brand new sector has come to life in Raspadalica — Iznad oblaka (Above the clouds).

Originally discovered by Klemen Bečan, who bolted the first two routes back in 2017, the wall remained untouched for years… waiting. In autumn 2025, development under Martin Wagner resumed with the bolting of new lines, cleaning of the wall, and building of the access. At the beginning of 2026, Gabriele Gorobey, Alberto Dal Maso, and Silvio Vuković added four more routes to the sector.

Today, Iznad oblaka offers 22 routes from 2a to 8a+/b, with potential for even harder projects. Expect a wide variety of climbing styles: tufas, crimps, and pockets on slabs, vertical faces, and steep overhangs.

Facing south and fully exposed, this is an ideal winter crag. While fog often blankets Buzet and the lower sectors, this wall rises above it — living up to its name.

Please note:

Respect the projects (marked with slings) and do not climb them until officially opened
Stay on marked paths and do not block access roads

Topo is available on ClimbIstria.com, 27 Crags, and in the new Croatian climbing guidebook.

Spring sends from Istria

Croatian Istria

Italian climber Gabriele Gorobey Sbisi repeated the rarely climbed amazing line called Grinta (8c) in the Slap sector of Buzetski kanjon. The route was bolted by Čedomir Cikić Čedo and first ascended by Goran Matika. Meanwhile, his friend Davide Gaeta clipped the chains of the neighbouring classic Inglorious basterds (8b+).

Slovenian Istria

In the big cave of Osp, Luca Bacer secured his second 9a this year with Halupca 1979 (9a), following his earlier ascent of Xaxid hostel (9a) in Mišja peč.

Polish climbing couple Łukasz Dębowski and Basia Dębowska were also successful in the cave:

Łukasz climbed Working class hero (8c)
Basia sent Active discharge (8a)

Further north, in the summer crag Skedenj near Sežana, Davide Gaeta completed the endurance testpiece Underground doesn’t stop (8c), an extension of El trabajo del borracho (8b+). Simone Constantini added another tick with Onda anomala (8b).

Mišja peč once again delivered the biggest concentration of hard sends:

Lana Skušek climbed Missing link (8b+), Mozaik (8a), and Uživancija (8a)
Martin Bergant sent Marioneta (8b+)
Rok Korošec achieved his first 8b with Mrtvaški ples (8b)
Matija Zupan climbed Marjetica (8b)
Mitja Jereb sent Lahko noč Irena (8b)
Wojtek Miclewski reached a personal best with Talk is cheap (8c)

Video highlight: Eva Cimperšek climbing Iglu (8a)

Italian Istria

In the shady crag Baratro above Trieste:

Lana Skušek sent Violenza carnale (8a)
Martin Bergant climbed Il sultano nero (8c), the extension of Holokaust (8b+)

Big congratulations to all climbers!

Upcoming event: BWSC 2026 in Osp – in memory of Janez Jeglič Johan

This Saturday, at 10AM, don’t miss the big wall speed climbing competition in the big wall of Osp.

Climbers will take on the iconic Magična goba (7c) — a 100-meter route climbed on top rope — in a unique speed format. Expect a strong lineup and an exciting show on one of the most impressive walls in the region.