The Kalmit is one of the highest mountains in the Palatinate and a short ascent and a bunch of rocks make it a well known local bouldering spot. I enjoyed the day bouldering outside even though it was unexpected cold for a winter day in Germany.
Or let’s say at least unexpected if you meet up in Karlsruhe on a warm and sunny morning and your bouldering spot lays in a winter wonderland. We, Dominik, Paul and me, did not consider that the Kalmit was way higher located than Karlsruhe and we were quite surprised by the snow. But it was cold enough so that the sandstone was dry and the motivation was so high that snow couldn’t stop us.
The first boulder problem we tried, was „Liquid sunshine“ (7c+). Dominik and I tried to warm up our fingers very slowly (with little success). Paul on the other hand side was on fire. It was one of his old projects and he did not waste any second. After some tries (and before we finished our warm-up), he took down the boulder problem. I am not sure whether he is just super strong or his heated shoe soles did the trick. At first, we were kidding about him, but with every hour in the cold outside, we got more and more jealous.
The second boulder we tried was „Sturmvogel“ (7b+) – a roof edge with some far moves at the end. It’s a nice boulder problem and Dominik and I had a lot of fun trying it. It took me some time to get warm enough for serious climbing. But after a while and with Paul’s beta, I was able to do it in the end.
In the evening I was happy to sit next to warm heating again. Bouldering outside the whole day was tough – but I enjoyed to spent the outside with some friends playing around in some nice boulder problems. The Kalmit is perfect for a short day bouldering outside. And if you consider going there in winter: do not forget some heated shoe soles – they can save your day 🙂 .
