The Czech Mountaineering Association (ČHS) has warned of the possible occurrence of dangerous rings in sandstone areas in Czechia. The warning follows an incident in Saxon Switzerland, Germany, where last year a ring broke under static load on the Akkupressur XIIa route on the Riesenechse tower; the climber's fall was only stopped by another ring.

According to information from the Saxon Mountaineering Association, these were rings manufactured in 2012, of which up to 60 pieces may have been delivered to Karel Bělina in the Czech Republic. These are gray to black rings with a visible weld between the shank and the eye. A list of Karel Bělina's routes since 2012 was therefore sent to rock administrators, but so far none of these risky rings have been found in newer routes.

In the Ostrov area, on the other hand, very similar rings of older production from 2009–2010 were discovered, a total of 20 pieces. These are silver and also made using the technology of welding the eye to the shank. The Central Summit Commission of the Czech Mountaineering Association has decided that these rings will be gradually replaced and that the routes in question will be closed until then and marked with a prohibition symbol in the Rocks of the Czech Republic database.

For more information, see last week's article on the Czech Mountaineering Association website:

horosvaz.cz: Upozornění na potenciálně nebezpečné kruhy