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From the Schesaplana to the Piz Buin
Twenty-year-old Nemuel Feuerle is connected to his native Vorarlberg (Austria) like no other. The mountains and valleys in "Ländle" offer the young alpinist everything he needs. He doesn't look for his challenges thousands of kilometers away, but right on his own doorstep.
Our Skinfit athlete Nemuel Feuerle, passionate trail runner and alpinist, starts a unique project
The Kirchlispitzen above Lake Lünersee have long been one of Nemuel's favorite regions, where he spends a lot of time climbing multi-pitch routes. It was there, after an afternoon of rock climbing followed by a ridge traverse, that he came up with the idea for his project: a non-stop traverse of the entire mountain ridge from Schesaplana, the queen in the Rätikon, to the highest mountain in Vorarlberg, Piz Buin, within 24 hours.
"FOR A PROJECT LIKE THIS, YOU NOT ONLY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO CLIMB SAFELY, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO BE ABLE TO RUN TRAILS FAST."
Together to success
As a climber and alpinist, Nemuel was attracted not only by the pure route kilometers but also by crossing as many summits as possible. A challenging trail run in alpine terrain and countless meters of altitude paired with many climbing passages in the 3 and 4 level were waiting the adventurer. A spontaneous idea became a real team project in a very short time.
"THERE ARE CLIMBING PASSAGES THAT ARE TOO DANGEROUS TO DO ALONE."
Nemuel was accompanied in his project by his comrade Benedikt Hartmann, an experienced ultra runner. He not only secured him during the difficult climbing sections, as originally planned, but also supported him along the entire route. Benedikt was enthusiastic about Nemuel's idea right from the start and was immediately involved in the planning. At the end of the day, Nemuel and Benedikt should have about 85 km and about 10,000 meters of altitude on their watches.
"FOR ME IT IS ENORMOUSLY IMPORTANT TO REACH THE PIZ BUIN TOGETHER WITH BENEDIKT. AS A TEAM, IT HAS A VERY SPECIAL APPEAL FOR ME."
The preparations
Route planning | With the help of some experienced trail runners and climbers from his circle, Nemuel inspected and planned the entire route in advance with metre precision. Again and again he conscientiously looked at small sections, tried different route options and also tried to get used to running with luggage and climbing gear.
"DESPITE PRECISE PLANNING, I TRY TO REMAIN SPONTANEOUS AND FIND THE BEST ROUTE AT THE MOMENT!"
Nemuel deliberately chose the route along the Austrian-Swiss border in a southeasterly direction in order to have the highest mountain in Vorarlberg as his destination. However, this also meant that the more demanding or alpine part of the route could only be expected on the second leg. The special challenge of the project was therefore not only to deliver the highest physical performance, but above all to be mentally fit and highly concentrated even halfway up the mountain. For Nemuel, the extreme athlete, it is particularly important that he has a precise plan but can also listen to his gut feeling and, especially in alpine terrain, react to circumstances and also allow spontaneous adjustments.
Packing list | In addition to precise route planning, the choice of the right clothing or equipment to take along is a key decision. Nemuel and Benedikt did not want to use depots or other support. This means the lightest possible equipment, quick-drying change of clothes, nutrition, poles, helmet, simplified climbing equipment for belaying and climbing harness must be carried on the entire route in a small backpack (20 l).
Packing list by Nemuel Feurle:
The right time
The weather | The weather is also crucial for the success of the ridge traverse. So the two waited a few weeks, ready to start and highly motivated, for the right time. After two or three dry late summer days, the two extreme athletes were finally able to take advantage of a good weather window and start their project.
"SNOW-FREE AND DRY WOULD BE OPTIMAL."
The daytime | The time of day also plays an important role on this long and, above all, demanding mountain tour. During the trail run, a small headlamp should help Nemuel to take the right path. The most difficult climbing passages, however, require daylight. Therefore, the choice of the start time was quite crucial for Nemuel and his partner Benedikt. In the end, a start around noon seemed to make the most sense. In addition, the two hoped to find their way safely through the darkness on the upcoming full moon night.
The transgression
Until the light goes out I Friday noon at 1:00 p.m. was the time. Nemuel and Benedikt started their project at the Lünersee valley station in Brandnertal. After a steady uphill trail to the Lünersee, they were able to tackle the first three major peaks in daylight without any problems, as planned. Faster than expected they climbed the Schesaplana, the entire ridge of the four Kirchlis peaks and just in time for sunset they reached the Drusenfluh. This gave them a lot of drive and motivation for the night ahead. High up on the summit, they allowed themselves a first longer refreshment break. A breathtaking panorama and the warm light of the last rays of the sun then accompanied the two athletes into the nightfall and into the last climbing passages on the Sulzfluh for the time being.
"IT'S EXTREMELY EXCITING TO BE OUT AND ABOUT AT NIGHT."
The darkness | Nemuel and Benedikt gradually got used to the darkness and felt well prepared for the upcoming 45 kilometer trail run. Running over hill and dale in alpine terrain is extremely demanding and was also a completely new experience for Nemuel in this dimension. On this cloudless night, at least countless stars and the full moon illuminated the surroundings. In order to maintain the necessary concentration and above all to counteract the emerging fatigue, Nemuel and Benedikt constantly alternated in the leadership. So Nemuel followed once the heels of his partner and then again his own way.
"IT'S AMAZING HOW BRIGHT THE NIGHT GLOW IS IN THE MOUNTAINS AND HOW MUCH OF THE SURROUNDING AREA CAN BE SEEN. IT WAS NEVER REALLY DARK."
With every kilometer more the distance stretched and the night seemed to last an eternity. Fully focused, however, there was hardly any room for mind games and communication between the two. Like clockwork, they reeled off the kilometers until it suddenly became light again on the horizon a little later.
The day dawned | The day dawned With sunrise, the next big peaks appeared in front of the two, the Groß Seehorn and the Groß Litzner. After sometimes tough walking for hours in the darkness, new energy came back into their tired bodies with daybreak, despite progressive exhaustion. Now the most challenging peaks with more than 3000 m above sea level were waiting to be conquered. Nemuel and Benedikt tackled the Groß Seehorn against the usual running direction. That is, passages they had learned in advance by rappelling now became a climbing challenge on the rope. While they were able to draw on their experience here and support each other extremely well, unexpected problems arose on the second ascent to the Groß Litzner. Some oncoming rope teams made the route difficult, which Nemuel and Benedikt mastered by free climbing. The energy-sapping descent and re-ascension took more time than expected, and so it was not until lunchtime that they stood high at the summit at 3109 meters above sea level. Drawn by the exertions of the last 20 hours, they looked from the Groß Litzner across to Piz Buin, their planned destination. At this point, they had already completed more than 65 kilometers of trail running and climbed more than 7,000 meters in altitude.
The change of plan
Respect | "An alpinist is only a good and, above all, healthy alpinist if he assesses his risk correctly and conscientiously." These words went through Nemuel's mind at the summit of Gross Litzner. Should they dare to go, despite great exhaustion and with minimalist equipment (very light crampons and vine cord), on a glacier that might expose crevasses under the advancing sunlight? Should they continue to pursue their big goal and thus take an unpredictable risk? Benedikt and Nemuel are both ambitious and top fit, were highly motivated and well prepared but they also have respect for the mountains and their own laws. At no point during the route did either Nemuel or Benedikt think about giving up. They enjoyed having new experiences and reaching their personal limits. But taking an unnecessary risk was not something they wanted or needed to do. They decided together to look at the Piz Buin from a distance and choose the safe descent to the Silvretta reservoir. After 23 hours of maximum concentration and effort, but also enjoyment and passion, the two friends left their project an open end.
"I WANTED TO PLAN AND REALIZE THE CROSSING. NO MATTER HOW MANY ATTEMPTS I NEED FOR IT! THIS EXPERIENCE HAS MADE ME EXTREMELY KEEN TO CONTINUE TRAIL RUN CLIMBING PROJECTS AND, ABOVE ALL, TO REACH PIZ BUIN AFTER ALL."