You can read the full tribute to Climbers We Lost in 2023 here.

Elisabeth Lardschneider, 20, July 26 

Elisabeth “Lisi” Lardschneider was a young and up-and-coming Italian sport climber whose potential alpine career was just beginning. 

Born December 30, 2002, Lardschneider grew up in Ortisei in Val Gardena, in Italy’s Dolomites. A climber since childhood, she quickly established herself as one of Italy’s best young sport climbers, ticking her first 5.13d, Menhir, in the Dolomites at age fourteen. Her other notable sends include Camillotto (5.13d) and Maltamaschine (5.13c) in the Dolomites and Le chirurgien du crépuscule (5.13d) and Born to Lose (5.13c) in Céüse, France. She entered international competition at age 16, beginning with the European Youth Cup and European Youth Championships.

An active member of the South Tyrolean Climbing Club, the Dolomites were undoubtedly Lardschneider’s favorite place. “Elisabeth was at home in many places, but she loved her local Dolomites the most. These are the mountains where she grew up and where she found her passion,” friend Patrick Tirler shared. “She was particularly fond of the places that, despite their beauty, are rarely visited, as only few take the effort to get there.” 

In her local climbing community, Lardshneider was known as a hard-working, adventurous spirit. “I knew Elisabeth to be a very calm and warm-hearted friend, who was enthusiastic about every experience and who could hardly be put off by any idea, no matter how crazy,” Tirler said. If someone in the group needed to carry an extra rope or the heavier bag, she would always be the first to volunteer. Lardschneider was humble and modest, with a deep passion in her soul for the mountains. 

More recently, Lardschneider took an interest in alpinism. Last year, she climbed the west face of Pik Odessa (15,781 ft) in Kyrgyzstan. In July, she traveled with Markus Ranalter and several other members of the South Tyrolean Climbing Club to the Himalayas. Lardschneider and Ranalter were the first to climb a new route up Jamyang Ri, summiting after six days of climbing on July 21. They named the 1,838-foot line Nubru Duk Lam, which means special valuable line, and graded the 18-pitch route VIII A1/X-?. “Every pitch had a surprise in store for us,” Ranalter said. “The route pushed us mentally and physically to our limits, but rewarded us with many 5-star pitches, beautiful climbing days, overnight stays on the portaledge, and many other wonderful moments.”

Along with Moritz Sigmund, Tirler completed a first ascent on another line of Jamyang Ri this fall; he had scouted Lardschenider and Ranalter’s route, but deemed it too difficult to attempt. “Lisi and Makke did not give up on their vision, showed extreme determination and extraordinary skills and finally managed to reach the crack through the whole wall up to the summit,” Tirler wrote on Instagram. “In six days of climbing, they completed the first ascent of this amazing wall, opening a true kingline and establishing an incredible free climbing project.” 

As a duo, Renalter and Lardschneider were the perfect combo. “Lisi was the better climber and I was better at rope handling and technical climbing. So we complemented each other quite well,” Ranalter said. He remarked that they continually learned from and pushed each other, with a trust built on many days spent together climbing the Dolomites. 

Shortly after this triumph, an unexpected tragedy struck. On July 26, Lardschneider slipped on the snowfield of Chanrasik Ri and died after a 150-meter fall. She and Ranalter were on the approach to the wall when the accident occurred. The close-knit small town of Ortisei deeply felt the loss of Lardschenider, who dreamed of becoming a member of the Catories, a special unit of mountain guides and rescuers in her native Dolomites. She is survived by her parents Egon and Martina, and her siblings Katharina, Amalia, and Jonas. 

“Elisabeth’s legacy is the fire that she planted in our hearts,” Tirler said. “She spread an incredible energy and inspiration.” To many, she was the face of the next generation of Italian climbing.