Discover new routes. Unlock new potential.

Val Bavona has long been known for its exceptional granite boulders. But in recent years, the valley’s climbing identity has begun to expand beyond the ground. Massive granite blocks, known as Balom, have revealed new potential: lines too tall to be considered traditional boulders, yet demanding a style that blends bouldering intensity with the commitment of sport climbing. These formations challenge conventional categories, asking climbers to move with precision, power, and confidence high above the pads.

At the center of this evolution is Egon Bernasconi. Through years of vision, patience, and hands-on development, Egon has established new routes on these towering blocs, shaping a distinct style defined by short, powerful sequences and technical decision-making. His work is not just about opening new lines, but about expanding what climbing in Bavona can be, inviting athletes to engage with the stone in a way that is physical, thoughtful, and deeply rooted in place.

Recently, Tenaya Outclimb spent the weekend in Val Bavona, where motivated athletes gathered to explore these emerging lines alongside Egon himself. The focus was on understanding the movement, the rock, and the mindset required for this unique terrain. Climbers shared beta, refined sequences, and learned directly from Egon’s development process, gaining insight into how these routes were imagined, built, and ultimately meant to be climbed.

Beyond the movement, the heart of the experience was community. Set against the granite walls and quiet rhythms of Ticino, the weekend became a space for collaboration, learning, and shared effort. Together, climbers didn’t just test new routes; they took part in the ongoing evolution of Val Bavona, discovering a new dimension of the valley and contributing to the future of climbing there, one powerful sequence at a time.