From Gripped Magazine · gripped · · 1m 30s
Lara Neumeier Climbs Historic First Female Route
Lara Neumeier completes historic first female ascent of Rhapsody E11 at Dumbarton Rock.
In brief
Lara Neumeier completes historic first female ascent of Rhapsody E11 at Dumbarton Rock. Lara Neumeier made the first female ascent of Rhapsody 5.14c R trad (E11 7a) at Dumbarton Rock in Scotland on Oct. 7, 2026. Originally reported by Gripped Magazine.
Historic First Female Ascent
Lara Neumeier made the historic first female ascent of Rhapsody 5.14c R trad (E11 7a) at Dumbarton Rock in Scotland.
Route History
First climbed by Scottish climber Dave MacLeod in 2006, Rhapsody was the world’s first E11 and remains one of the most iconic and demanding trad climbing routes.
Achievement Timeline
Neumeier completed the ascent on Oct. 7, exactly 20 years after MacLeod established the route.
Previous Ascentists
Previous ascensionists include Sonnie Trotter, Steve McClure, James Pearson and Jacopo Larcher.
Psychogramm Inspiration
Neumeier’s ascent of Psychogramm 5.14a at Bürser Platte in Austria in spring 2025 sparked her interest in more challenging trad routes.
First Trip to Scotland
Neumeier first visited Dumbarton Rock with fellow climber Nemuel Fuerle in April 2026 to assess Rhapsody’s feasibility.
Weather Challenges
Scotland’s unpredictable weather and wet conditions initially hindered progress on Rhapsody.
Second Trip Preparation
After returning from Norway, Neumeier spent four to five weeks preparing before her second attempt at Rhapsody.
Historic Ascent Completion
Neumeier completed the historic first female ascent of Rhapsody on Oct. 7, 2026, after overcoming technical challenges and wet conditions.
The main idea
Lara Neumeier made the first female ascent of Rhapsody 5.14c R trad (E11 7a) at Dumbarton Rock in Scotland on Oct. 7, 2026.
