Climbing news from Mišja peč and beyond
October—often referred to as Rocktober by climbers—has kicked off with ideal conditions in Istria (especially in Mišja peč), offering perfect temperatures and dry rock for ambitious sends across the region’s renowned crags.
Biggest highlights at Mišja peč
The standout performance of the „Rocktober“ so far belongs to World Cup competitor Lana Skušek, who made waves by conquering her first 8c, Strelovod, located on the right side of Mišja peč, in just two sessions. As if that wasn’t impressive enough, she quickly followed it up by dispatching another 8c, the powerful Talk is cheap on the left side of the same iconic wall.
Her boyfriend, Martin Bergant, was not to be outdone, as he also succeeded in sending Strelovod (8c). The same route was also done by young and promising Austrian climber Christoph Bauer.
Another Austrian climber, Thomas Steinwendtner, had a remarkable run in Mišja peč. He flashed Corto (8a) and Sonce v očeh (8a+), and went on to redpoint the classic Missing link (8b+) on his second attempt, as well as Marjetica (8b).
In a bold show of strength, Milan Preskar achieved a flash of the bouldery Iglu (8a), marking another accomplishment in Mišja peč’s ever-bustling climbing scene.
Notable ascents by female climbers
The ever-impressive Vita Lukan added Oktoberfest (8a) to her tick list, sending it on her second attempt. She also clipped the chains on Missing link (8b+), both in Mišja peč. Interestingly, she mentioned finding Missing link (8b+) harder than its neighboring route Missing drink (8b+), showing just how subjective climbing difficulty can be.
Eva Dana Vidmar also made her mark, climbing the notoriously crimpy and polished Oktoberfest (8a), proving her skill on this technical challenge.
Just minutes ago, always motivated Mojca Rejc added another 8a to her ticklist, the endurance challenge of Chiquita (8a).
Climbing news from other crags
Moving over to the Croatian side of Istria, Jakob Šparovec added to the excitement by sending the beautiful Forty Feet Woman (8b+) in sunny Kompanj. The route, known for its delicate footwork and powerful moves, is a prize for any climber visiting the area.
Meanwhile, Tim Pahor explored the shady sector of Befana in Buzetski kanjon, where he took down Lap dance (8b) on his second go. Pahor proposed a downgrade to 8a, reflecting on the climb’s difficulty. The same route was redpointed by Polish climber Grzegorz Sowa, further adding to the list of ascents in the area.
Looking ahead
Congratulations to all the climbers on their remarkable achievements! With the forecast looking promising in the coming days, there’s plenty more action to come as autumn continues to provide perfect conditions for climbing in Istria.