The news

The International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA) has issued the following comprehensive position statement regarding the critical issue of electromagnetic interference (EMI) with avalanche transceivers.

Enrico Lovato reports about the first ascent of 'Il Cigno Nero' (320m, 5+, M7, 40°) established on the north-east face of Cima Falkner in the Brenta Dolomites with Federico Asciolla on 5 January 2024.

At the start of January 2024 Austrian climber Nemuel Feurle, together with Lea Kempf, repeated 'Hotel Supramonte' (8b, 400m) in Sardinia.

From 8 to 11 May 2024 Val di Mello - Val Masino will once again host the Melloblocco, the largest bouldering meeting in the world.

On 20/12/2023 Japanese climber Tomoa Narasaki flashed 'Gakido', a boulder problem at Chigobudau previously rated 8C+. After using a slightly different sequence, Narasaki suggested 8B+. He then freed the sitstart project at 8C, calling it 'Ashuradō'.

On 31/12/2023 Marco Cordin and Martino Piva made the first ascent of 'Nunca con prisa, siempre con gana', a new mixed climb on Castello di Vallesinella in the Brenta Dolomites, Italy. Cordin reports.

The video of Adam Ondra onsighting 'El Gran Bellanco' 8c+/9a at Montanejos in Spain.

German rock climber Solveig Korherr has onsighted her first 8b+, 'Humildes pa Casa' at Oliana in Spain.

Europe's best converge next week for the 2024 ISMF European Championships in Flaine / Chamonix, France.

Interview with German climber Alexander Megos who on 4 January 2024 made the first repeat of Sleeping Lion at Siurana in Spain. Established by Chris Sharma in March 2023 and originally graded 9b+, Megos believes the route warrants 9b.

American climber Carlo Traversi has made the first ascent of The Dark Side, an 8C+ boulder problem in Yosemite Valley, USA.

Alexander Megos has made the first repeat of Sleeping Lion, the Siurana testpiece put up by Chris Sharma in March 2023.

On 01/01/2024 Italian climber Luca Bana redpointed his second 9a+, 'Super Crackinette' at Saint Léger du Ventoux in France.

Belgium's Sébastien Berthe has climbed his third 9a+, Beyond at Pic Saint Loup in France.

The video of British climber Mathew Wright making the first ascent of the bold trad climb 'Magical Thinking' E10 7a at Pavey Ark in England.

On 22/12/2023 Davide Galizzi and Daniele Leonardelli established 'Trilly occhi di ghiaccio', a new mixed climb on Cima delle Fontane Fredde in the Brenta Dolomites. Galizzi report.