# The bold free solo climber you've never heard of

> In 1961, Belgian climber Claude Barbier soloed five legendary Dolomite north faces in a single day.
- Title: The bold free solo climber you've never heard of | Shortify
- Summary: In 1961, Belgian climber Claude Barbier soloed five legendary Dolomite north faces in a single day. Claude Barbier's 1961 solo of five Tre Cime north faces…
- Keywords: claude barbier, free solo climbing, dolomites, tre cime di lavaredo, belgium, mountaineering, alpine climbing, climbing history, 1961, bold, free, solo
- Source: Gripped Magazine — https://gripped.com/profiles/the-bold-free-solo-climber-youve-never-heard-of
- Author: Brandon Pullan
- Published: 2026-09-18T11:44:07+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: claude barbier, free solo climbing, dolomites, tre cime di lavaredo, belgium, mountaineering, alpine climbing, climbing history, 1961
## An audacious plan
On August 24, 1961, 23-year-old Belgian climber Claude Barbier set out to solo all five north faces of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo in one day.
## The first two climbs
Barbier started the Cassin route on Cima Ovest at 5:20 a.m., summiting at 8:18. He then climbed the Comici route on Cima Grande, reaching the top three hours later.
## Three more to go
At 2:45 p.m., he climbed the Preuss route on Cima Piccolissima, then the Dülfer route on Punta di Frida. His final route was the Innerkofler on Cima Piccola, finishing at 6:25.
## A stunning achievement
Barbier completed all five climbs in 13 hours and 5 minutes total, with 8 hours 38 minutes of climbing and roughly 3,500 meters of vertical gain.

> Refuge warden Bepi Reider had watched him earlier that morning through binoculars as he soloed the Cassin route, assuming Barbier would soon return for breakfast.
## Still unmatched today
In September 2026, veteran alpinists Marian Aßmair and Michael Stadler attempted the same routes as fast as possible. It took them 14 hours and 15 minutes.
## A legacy cut short
Barbier became an influential figure in Belgian climbing. He died in a climbing accident in Yvoir, Belgium, in 1977, aged 35.
## Key takeaway

Claude Barbier's 1961 solo of five Tre Cime north faces in 13 hours remains one of climbing's most audacious achievements.