A Life In The Vertical: Tilmann Hepp

Wolfgang Güllich left his mark on the sport of vertical climbing like no other climber. Born on October 24, 1960, in Ludwigshafen, Germany, he began climbing at the age of fourteen. In the 1980s and early 1990s, he ushered in a new era, successively elevating the international level of climbing to the extremely difficult grades of 8b, 8b+, 8c, and finally the 9a. He left his mark on every continent and brought the idea of free climbing to the mighty walls of the Karakoram and Patagonia. He opened hundreds of routes around the world, including the legendary Kanal im Rucken, Punks in the Gym, Action Directe, Eternal Flame, and Riders on the Storm. Recognised as one of the most exceptional climbers of all time, he combined the qualities of an athlete with great strength of character and a wealth of spirit. He died on August 31, 1992, as a result of injuries sustained in a car accident. This is a broad overview of the great German climber's biography, narrated by one of his closest friends and climbing companions. Photographic illustrations.