Image: Barbara Zangerl on Pre-Muir (5.13d) on El Cap. Photo by Jacopo Larcher

Named “Adventurer of the Year” by National Geographic, Barbara Zangerl is one of the most accomplished and inspiring European female rock climbers. Affectionately known as Babsi, Zangerl has collected an impressive selection of ascents including first female ascents on El Capitan’s El Nino (5.13c/8a+), Zodiac (5.7), and Magic Mushroom (5.14a/8b+) in Yosemite Valley, California. She also recently posted her first 9a (5.14d) sport route, Speed Integral, and the first female ascent of Odysee (5.13c/8a+), the hardest free climb on the Eiger in Switzerland. With such a large variety of climbing successes, we were thrilled when Zangerl offered to share how she suits up with rock climbing gear when getting ready for her projects.

Hi Barbara, welcome to Moja Gear. You have recorded an impressive collection of climbing achievements across very different climbing locations, rock styles and climbing styles ranging from big wall to trad climbing and sport routes.  Which type of climbing do you get most excited about training for?

I love big wall climbing the most because this style of climbing offers the greatest adventure.

When preparing for these different rock climbing styles, do you select different climbing equipment?

Yes, I have different collections of gear for alpine climbing versus sport climbing. For alpine climbing I love super light quickdraws: I usually use the Hoodwire quickdraws from BD (Black Diamond).

Babsi’s choice for alpine climbing.

black-diamond-hoodwire-set

For sport climbing, I love the purple Nitron quickdraws. They are heavier, but also easier to grab if you have to figure out a boulder sequence on a single pitch. When I work on a sport climbing route, I put the draws on it and leave them up there for the whole day until I am finished: the Nitron is perfect for this use and I also really like the full key lock draw for snag-free clipping.

Babsi’s choice for snag-free clipping for sport climbing.

Neutrino-quickdraw-pack-gray

When belaying on big walls, I only use the ATC-pilot from Black Diamond because I can give a really soft belay on loooong runouts. In my opinion, you need a soft belay on alpine routes and this is the best device for providing a soft belay.

Babsi’s choice for long runouts.

atc-pilot-black-diamond-min

For belaying on sport climbing routes, I belay with Grigri because it gives me more confidence that even if somebody takes a long time on a route they are secure. Sometimes I belay with the Black Diamond ATC pilot. The ATC Pilot is similar to the Grigri in that they both provide assisted braking. But the ATC Pilot doesn’t lock completely. The advantage of the pilot is that you can give rope really fast.

Babsi’s choice for long sport climbing routes.

GriGri+

You recently joined the Vibram Team so naturally, we want to hear about your climbing shoes. What shoes do you choose for climbing big walls, and which ones do you prefer for trad and sport climbing?

For big wall limestone, I use the La Sportiva Kataki women’s shoe. For everything else, I use the La Sportiva Skwama Men’s shoes. I love the soft Vibram Xsgrip2 rubber on the Skwama’s which offers the best grip. This is especially important if I have to smear on slippery El Cap granite.

Babsi’s climbing shoe choice for big wall limestone.

lasportiva-kataki-women-shoe

Babsi’s everyday climbing shoe choice.

La-Sportiva-Skwama

The stunning ascent of Magic Mushroom on El Capitan has been just one of the climbing feats that led you to be named “Adventurer of the Year” by National Geographic: it must have been a demanding ascent, spending 13 days in the middle of December on this iconic big wall. How were you equipped for the nights on the wall?

We worked on the route for about 30 days (we also had to clean a lot of the pitches on the first part of the wall). There was definitely a lot of effort needed to climb MM [Magic Mushroom (5.13c/8a+)], but then a big dream came true! I have never invested so much energy into a big wall climb before. It took 11 days for the final push to reach the top and free all the pitches. It was a big fight to climb that line … a real adventure!!

Yes, it was December, and the nights were quite cold. We slept on a Black Diamond Cliff Cabana Double Portaledge in our warm Inferno sleeping bags from The North Face, and we also had the Thermarest Z lite Regular to sleep on. During the nights we secured ourselves to the anchor with a Daisy-Chain attached out our Black Diamond Solution harnesses.

Babsi’s choice for big wall shelter.

Cliff cabana double portaledge

Babsi’s choice for a big wall sleeping bag:
The North Face Inferno Sleeping Bag.

the north face inferno -20 sleeping bag

Babsi’s choice for a big wall sleeping pad.

Therm a Rest Z Lite Sol Sleeping Pad

Babsi’s choice for big wall comfort and security day and night.

Black Diamond Solution Womens Rock Climbing Harness

Dynex Daisy Chain by Black Diamond

Babsi’s choice for big wall security.

Black Diamond 12 mm Dynex Daisy Chain

Barbara Zangerl on Watervall Boven in South Africa

Barbara Zangerl climbing in Waterval Boven (South Africa), Picture by Gustav from Rock and Rope

Thanks Barbara! Read more about Barbara Zangerl in her National Geographic article and on her official website!