The news

Monaco beckons! In less than a week since setting off from the Austrian city of Salzburg, Christian Maurer (SUI1), a 30-year-old athlete from Switzerland, is approaching the final leg to Monaco and could arrive as early as Sunday.

The report of the 4th day of the Red Bull X-Alps, dominated by Switzerland's Christian Maurer.

7 July the 51-year-old great Polish alpinists Artur Hajzer died while falling down the Japanese couloir on Gasherbrum I (8068m).

On 9 July James McHaffie made the fifth ascent of The Indian Face, E9 6c on Cloggy, Wales.

Interview with Adam Ondra who succeeded in his first 9a onsight today by sending the route Cabane au Canada at the Swiss crag Rawyl.

American climber Sasha DiGiulian has made the first ascent of Rolihlahla, a new 8c/+ at Waterfall Boven in South Africa.

Two-time winner Christian Maurer (SUI1) opened up a comfortable lead yeasterday on the second day of the Red Bull X-Alps, the world's toughest adventure race.

Pre-registration is online for the second The North Face Kalymnos Climbing Festival 2013 which will take place from 10-13 October 2013. The program is alos online for this great event on the Greek island of Kalymnos.

Diego Pezzoli talks about the Alpine Marathon, the particular aid climbing competition which took place from 14-16 June at Svetogorsk in Russia.

The Red Bull X-Alps 2013 got underway to a perfect start. Thousands of fans cheered the 31 athletes from the Mozartplatz in the centre of Salzburg from where there 1000km journey across the Alps has now begun.

Tito Traversa died yesterday at the age of 12 as a result of a terrible climbing accident at Orpierre in France. He was one of climbing's youngest prodigies. The entire climbing world is shocked and deeply saddened by his death.

On Sunday, July 7 at 11:30am the Red Bull X-Alps 2013 gets underway, the extremely difficult paragliding and running competition all the way from Salzburg in Austria to the Principality of Monaco.

Gallo George (240m, 5+) is the route the Sterni family (Marco, Paolo, Serena) established up Torrione della Muraglia di Giau (Lastoni di Formin, Croda da Lago, Dolomites) in 2012.

The Via Ferrata Gamma Uno at Pizzo d’Erna in Italy officially reopens today, while Via Ferrate Gamma Due at Dente del Resegone reopens on Saturday 6 July.

The video of the Petzl RocTrip 2013 at the Gorges du Tarn in France, with Chris Sharma and Dave Graham.

A strong international team of climbers comprised of Caroline Ciavaldini, Sam Elias, Yuji Hirayama, Jacopo Larcher and James Pearson have just completed a 3 week trip to the Reunion island in the Indian Ocean where they established a flurry of new routes, the highlight being the multi-pitch Zembrocal (140m, 8c+).