Sweet New 6-Pitch 5.14 in Mighty Rätikon

On June 20, 2025, Babsi Zangerl and Jacopo Larcher completed the first red-point ascent of Next Generation, a climbing project on the Zwölferkopf West Face in Rätikon, Austria. Next Generation, established in 2018 by Pio Jutz, Christian Fritz, Klaus Müller, and Christof Thaler, spans 170 meters across six pitches, graded 7a, 8a+, 8b+, 7b+, 7c+, and 6c. 

The original team could not free-climb the 8b+ crux pitch, leaving the route unfinished. In 2022, Babsi and Jacopo spent one day examining the route. They returned the week of June 16, 2025, and after one day working the crux pitches, they achieved the first red-point ascent on June 20. 

Babsi shared: “This line sits on a limestone wall, a three-hour approach from our flat. Pio Jutz, a pioneer of alpine climbing in Austria, established all routes on this wall in 2018. Next Generation awaited its first red-point ascent. We checked it out in 2022 but only returned this week. With rising valley temperatures, we decided to attempt it again. After the hike, we figured out the beta for the two crux pitches. Both of us climbed the first hard pitch; Jacopo also sent the crux pitch. I fell once at the crux but felt progress. Time ran out, so we descended by paraglider. Two days later, we hiked up again, climbed the entire route free, and both led the three hardest pitches. That evening, we stood on Zwölferkopf’s summit, overlooking our starting point. Thanks to Pio Jutz for this line.”