A century ago in the Brenta group of the Dolomites, Paul Preuss soloed this 5 9- route, and down climbed it as well. The route went 17 years before it saw a second ascent. Pretty hard to imagine climbing at that level before World War I. Of course, Paul Preuss led a short life, and he died at the age of 27 soloing a route on the Mandlkogel.
