The news

On Monte Fop in Val Franzedaz (Dolomites), Federico Dell’Antone and Thomas Gianola have opened 'Abbronzatissima'. a technical and elegant climb where balance, precision, and a cool head matter more than strength. The multipitch outing that 'is more reminiscent of the Rätikon than the classic Dolomites.'

On a climbing trip to Taghia in Morocco Iker Pou established two hard multipitch climbs: 'Club Ahmed' (8a, 260m) on Tuyat with Joseph Harris, and 'Aske' (8c?, 185m) with Ibai Ezio and Héctor Marrodán.

American climber Noah Wheeler has repeated Burden of Dreams at Lappnor in Finland. Established by Nalle Hukkataival in 2016, this was the first ever boulder problem in the world to be graded 9A.

British climber Franco Cookson has made the first ascent of 'But Nothing Is Lost' at Ben Loyal in northern Scotland. Cookson has suggested E12 7a and, if the difficulty is confirmed, this would be the first of its grade in the United Kingdom.

American climber Michaela Kiersch has made the first female ascent of 'Dolby Surround' in the Zillertal valley in Austria. The 31-year-old has suggested an upgrade to 9a+ after a hold broke.

On the south face of Piccolo Lagazuoi in the Dolomites, Simon Kehrer and Marta Willeit have established 'Bio Rock' (6c, 235m).

After battling shoulder injuries and a loss of motivation, Slovenian climber Jernej Kruder bounced back with a momorable climbing trip to Paklenica in Croatia: free soloing 'Nostalgija', 'Karamara + Kaminski' on Anića Kuk, onsighting the old classic 'Življenje' and 'El Condor Pasa', plus linking 'Duh kneza' into 'Rio'.

German climber Yannick Flohé has repeated 'No One Mourns The Wicked' in Thunder Ridge, USA. Established by Nathaniel Coleman in 2024 and originally graded 9A, Flohé suggests a downgrade to 8C+.

The video of American climber Connor Herson establishing 'Drifter’s Escape' at Squamish in Canada. Graded 9a+, this is as the world's first trad climb of this difficulty.

Cleaning a sport climb with dubious lower-offs, or retreating from a route with questionable protection, can sometimes be dangerous. UIAA mountain guide Jan Schneider from Germany illustrates a technique using a Prusik loop that increases safety while retrieving climbing gear.

Watch Adam Ondra climb Die Vertreibung der letzten Idealisten on the Nonnengärtner sandstone towers in the river Elbe River Valley in Saxony, Germany. 8c ground‑up, without chalk and 'one of the most meaningful climbing experiences I’ve had.'

Canadian climber Will Stanhope has died as a result of a climbing accident in Squamish, British Columbia. Aged 39, the certified mountain guide was regarded as one of North America's leading rock climbers.

Watch South Tyrolean climber Jacopo Larcher repeating 'Bon Voyage', the E12 trad climb at Annot in France first ascended by James Pearson in 2023.

On 21 April 2026 French climber Oriane Bertone sent Kheops (8B) and Gecko assis (8B+) in Fontainebleau.

Watch Nalle Hukkataival attempting, and then freeing Burden of Dreams, the world's first 9A boulder, freed at Lappnor in Finland in 2016.

17-year-old Gianluca Vighetti has sent 'Bombardino' (9a) at Bus de la Stria in Arco, Italy on his second attempt and in a single day.