The news

Shepherds and alpine guides, two professions connected to the mountains and nature that, in this frenetically changing world, can inspire us in day-to-day life and live out our passions without forgetting our roots. By Teddy Soppelsa for Good For Alps, magazine AKU trekking & outdoor footwear.

The Tour du Rutor Extrême 2014 will be held in Valle d'Aosta, Italy from 28 - 30 March. After the recent Pierra Menta this is the second stage of the Grande Course, the championship of the most important and prestigious ski mountaineering races in the world.

In February 2014 the Austrians Albert Leichtfried and Benedikt Purner travelled to northern Norway and established a host of new ice climbs, including Tiroler tris (550m, WI 6), Enter sandman (750m, WI7-) and Happy end (600m, M5 WI5).

The complete video of La Dura Dura 9b+ at Oliana in Spain, the hardest sport climb in the world freed by Adam Ondra and repeated by Chris Sharma in 2013.

On 13 March the American climber Sean Leary died during a BASE jump accident in Utah, USA

The XVI National Week of hiking CAI will take place from June 28 to July 6, 2014 on more than 60 paths around Cadore and Cortina, in the province of Belluno, Dolomites.

The 29th Pierra Menta took place at Arêches-Beaufort (France) from 20 - 23 March 2014. The classic ski mountaineering competition was won by the Italians Matteo Eydallin & Damiano Lenzi. The women's event was won by the French - Swiss team Laetitia Roux & Maude Mathy.

From 26 - 29 March the international meeting with the alpinism "Oscar" returns to Chamonix and Courmayeur on the two sides of Mont Blanc: a great jury will select the best climb in 2013, while American alpinist John Roskelley will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. Numerous events, including the meeting...

Maurizio Oviglia reveals Punta A Biciartula at Bavella, Corsica; pure pleasure climbing up some of the most beautiful and unique granite in the world.

On Monday 17 March Swiss alpinist Ueli Steck and Germany's Michi Wohlleben climbed the three North Faces of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo in the Dolomites, via, the routes Cassin, Comici - Dimai and Innerkofler. The report about the first winter ascent of the North Face enchainement by Michi Wohlleben.

In mid-February at Madesimo, Italy, the media was invited to an event aimed at educating journalists about how to promote the right mountain safety message in order to shape a mountain culture that is instrumental in preventing and reducing avalanche victims.

Video: Jerry Moffatt and Ben Moon bouldering Karma at Fontainebleau.

Niccolò Ceria reports about the bouldering at Red Rocks close to Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

The Gallura Sardinia bouldering guidebook is now online documenting the boulders cleaned and climbed by the La Sportiva Ambassadors Team in autumn 2013

On 18/03/2014 Silvio Reffo freed The ring of life 9a/a+ at the Italian crag Covolo.

On 14/03/2014 François Cazzanelli and Roberto Ferraris made the first ascent of Banana sprint, a 670m mixed line dedicated to Simona Hosquet up the SE Face of Grandes Murailles (Pennine Alps). The summit was reached by following the the Normal route up Punta Sella, first climbed in 1877 by G....