The news

On 24 February Massimo Farina died while ice climbing in Val di Rhemes (Italy).

On Saturday 12 February the two moutain Guides Nicola Tondini and Adam Holzknecht made the first repeat and consequently also the first winter ascent of "Loss lei, heb schun" on the massively exposed Sass dla Crusc, Dolomites.

The jury, headed by Krzysztof Wielicki, and the six candidates for the Piolet d'Or 2004 promoted by Montagnes Magazine

Saas Fee 21-22 January 2004. The Austrian Harald Berger and Petra Muller from Switzerland won the World Championship Ice Difficulty, while the Speed event was won by Evgeny Kryvosheytsev from the Ukraine and Natalia Koulikova from Russia

A fortnight ago Mauro Bubu Bole revisited Kurt Astner's cave in Valle di Landro and climbed Mister Big Ben M12

Mauro Bubu Bole and Claudia Colussi have won the 3rd stage of the Alpin Cup, held in Riva di Tures last weekend.

Silvestro Stucchi introduces El Potrero Chico, a rock paradise in Mexico

Anna Torretta and Matteo Giglio al Ouray Ice Festival, Colorado, the most famous Ice Park in the U.S.A.

On 14/01/2004 Simone Moro and Piotr Morawski made the first winter ascent of Shisha Pangma (8027m), climbing without supplementary oxygen and high altitude porters.

PlanetMountain has been voted best climbing site according to Forbes, the world's premier magazine for business and financial news.

Hannes Pfeifhofler and Jenny Lavarda win the second stage of the Alpin Cup 2004/5 in Val Passiria

Anna Torretta talks about the icefalls at Kandersteg, Switzerland

On 1 January 2005 Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, the President of the Italian Republic, named Lino Lacedelli "Cavaliere di Gran Croce" Knight of the Great Cross of the Italian Republic.

On 18 December Yuri Parimbelli made the first ascent of the super technical Zuper-Mandrake 8c/8c+ at Cornalba, Italy.

The six Piolet d'Or 2004 nominees for the most important alpine achievements of the year

During a 40 day trip to Japan Josune Bereziartu and Rikar Otegi redpoint "Logical Progression" 9a at Jo Yama. Bereziartu on-sights "Steroid Performance" at Horai.