Portrait
Climbing with passion – the fascination of adventure
Hello, my name is Micha Rinn. I’m a passionate alpinist, trainer for alpine climbing/
In 2018 and 2019 I made it on the shortlist for the Piolet d’Or – the most important international award for exceptionally innovative achievements in modern alpinism.
Why do I love mountaineering so much? Well, the mountains have been a magical attraction to me from an early age – through their sheer size and presence, their wild beauty, their countless peaks as ephemeral and hostile places. Being a small part of this fascinating “universe” has always been – and still is – my great motivation. I love the explorative character of a mountain tour, especially when it comes to exploring new areas and routes or realising exciting ideas – ideally in harmony with the nature, a reliable partner and the right motivation.
Every human being has their own personal potentials, which defines them and sets them apart from everyone else. You have to act out and use this in order to achieve the best result – whether through creativity for a new route, the sporting confrontation with the mountain or the human factor, as a rope-partner or in the group. I think that’s what the mountains are all about for me. The most important things, however, are the experiences made and the insights gained from them – the real values that persist in life.
Furthermore, I am very happy that we still have such incredibly wild areas on our planet. I hope that generations to come will still have the opportunity to go into the mountains and connect with nature. Because people are most likely to take action to protect those wild places they have a relationship with. For me, this is a great motivation to bring people closer to nature – be it through a climbing course in the mountains, an exciting lecture or a reportage. The mountains are full of energy. Go and get it!
My route highlights
Intense experiences and fantastic climbing – for me the highest expression of freedom:
- First Ascent Perfect Storm (ED1, 6a+, 860 m/700 m), Mont Blanc/Pointe Louis Amédée (4460 m)
(shortlisted on Piolet d’Or 2019) - First Ascent Game of Thrones (ED2, 5.10a, 1540 m/1250 m), Monarch Mountain South-West Pillar (3572 m), Canada
(shortlisted on Piolet d’Or 2018) - Free Onsight French Pillar (VII+/VIII-, Trad E3/5c, 1100 m/1000 m), Jebel Misht (2090 m) Hajar al-Gharbi, Oman
- First Ascent Bella Vista (D, 6b+, 365 m/280 m), Mont Vert de Greuvetta (2810 m), Italy
- Free Onsight Squamish Buttress (5.10c), Stawamus Chief, Squamish/Canada
- First Ascent Diamond Ridge (TD, 5c/A0, 2500 m/1600 m), Grandes Jorasses/Pointe Walker (4208 m)
- Numerous other FAs: Monarch Ice Field/Canada, Senja Island/Norway, Kaldakinn/Iceland, Lochnagar/Scotland, Mont Blanc/France-Italy, Gruebenkessel/Switzerland, Kleinwalsertal/Austria, Hajar al-Sharqi/Oman, Tiras-Berge/Namibia
- Leading of difficult ice falls up to WI 6 like Juvsøyla/Rjukan, Pilone Centrale/Val Travenanzes, Rübezahl/Kandersteg, Jumbo Jet/Langental, Brasilian Gully/Haukadalur, Thron (Il Mostro)/Averstal, Eisspur/Renkfälle, Shark/Pitztal and many more
- Various Zugspitze Infinity Loops with over 7300 vertical meters in ascent and descent
- Complete winter crossing of the Hardangervidda and Hardangerjøkulen from Haukeliseter to Finse, Norway
- Zugspitze Jubilee ridge (8,1 km in 3:28 h)
- Expedition Campo de Hielo Sur circumnavigation of the Fitz Roy/Cerro Torre massif over the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, Argentina/Chile
- Ascent Licancabur (6004 m) from the unmined east side, Bolivia