Author: Klemen Vodlan

The summer heat has hit hard this year in Istria. Already experiencing one heat wave a few weeks ago, an even stronger one is expected in the coming days. Despite the soaring temperatures, climbers in the region have been making impressive ascents. Recent climbs Local climber Luca Bacer from Trieste redpointed the athletic Hercules (8b+) in the secret spot of Baratro. In Krkuž, he also flashed the

We had a chance to speak with Ulric Rousseau, our friend and the organizer of the Psicobloc Open Series climbing competition, which is being held for the first time in Istria, specifically in Umag, Croatia, from October 4th to 6th 2024. Congratulations on the upcoming Psicobloc competition. Could you explain what Psicobloc is and outline the competition format? How old must the competitors be? How hard

The weather in May was far from great, with frequent rain unusual for this time of year. For instance, almost all the tufas in Istria are wet at the moment and there's now a lake beneath the cave of Osp. However, high motivation can overcome any climbing conditions. This was proven by young Samo Golob, who reached his personal best by climbing Konec Mira (8c/c+)

Another thrilling week in the climbing world unfolds, bringing forth tales of triumph and tenacity from the limestone cliffs of Istria. Let's dive into the highlights: 14 years old American girl Maya Ene returned to the big cave of Osp where she smashed the endurance testpiece of Bitka s stalaktiti (8b) on her second attempt. Besides that, she has also done Helihopter v omaki (8b). The

1st of May in Istria was a bustling affair, with climbers flocking to the region to take advantage of the splendid weather and ideal climbing conditions. The crags echoed with the sounds of success as climbers conquered challenging routes, marking remarkable achievements throughout the area. Let's delve into the highlights of the most notable ascents in Istria. Croatian climber, Inga Patarčić, achieved a significant milestone by

With the 1st of May holidays just around the corner, and climbers converging from all corners to explore the beautiful crags of Istria, it's paramount to stay informed about recent safety concerns and updates. We've been diligently sharing these updates on our social media platforms over the past few days to ensure the safety and enjoyment of all climbers. Poor quality fixed quickdraws in Mišja peč Climbers

Strong Italian climber from Lombardia, Stefano Carnati striked again, this time he completed Halupca 1979 (9a) in the big cave of Osp. He commented his send of Halupca 1979 (9a) with: ”Not the style I prefer, but when you figure out how to navigate in the sea of tufas it might be fun. I believe that for climbers with the proper fitness, figuring out what

Eastern holidays have come to a close, leaving bustling activity throughout Istria. Climbers from across the globe flocked to its crags, creating a vibrant atmosphere. The first week was marked by abundant rainfall, followed by a week of summer-like temperatures, offering a bit of everything. Let's highlight some of the most notable ascents in our beloved Istria. Trieste local climber, Luca Bacer climbed another 8c in

Jakob Bizjak climbed the hardest of three 9a's in Mišja peč, Xaxid hostel in the central part of Mišja peč. (the other, "easier 9a's" are Sanjski par extension and Martin Krpan"). Xaxid hostel was first ascended in 2006, by World Cup competitor Tomasz Mrazek, he grade it as a 9a+. Adam Ondra repeated it 2009 repeated it in terrible humidity, after he said: ''…definetely the hardest

Stefano Carnati made the first repeat of Istria's hardest route, Vicious circle (9a+/b) in the left part of Mišja peč. Vicious circle (9a+/b) was first ascended by Adam Ondra, back in March 2016. Stefano commented his ascent: “9a+/b. 40 movements, extreme power endurance climbing with a hard crux. Broke the first hold and the entry section got slightly harder (climbed it second try before then