Most climbers would feel fully satisfied after a successful ascent of virtually any big wall climb, while others—like Mammut athlete, Dani Arnold —can’t help but continuously push themselves by greatly elevating the standards and stakes for their ascents.

This past summer, Dani chose to take two already arduous and long climbs to the next level, by not only free soloing them, but also establishing remarkably fast speed records on each.

The first of his feats was his free solo of the Carlesso Route (5.12a, 25 pitches, 650 meters) on Torre Trieste in the Dolomites in a mere one hour and eight minutes.

A well-rehearsed and speedy rope team normally needs one day for the route—my goal was to climb the route free solo in a fraction of that time.

Subsequently, to top off an already impressive summer, Dani also adapted his same challenge to the Northeast Face of Piz Badile Cassin (5.10b, 18 pitches), which he free soloed all 800 meters of in just 52 minutes.

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