The news

More than 2200 people have pre-registered for the 8th Melloblocco, the world's biggest climbing and bouldering meeting due to take place in Val Masino, Italy from 5 - 8 may 2011.

April 22nd marked the 41st Earth Day, celebrated in 2011 by 190 different countries. We recommend the film/documentary Home by the GoodPlanet foundation, to look at and think about our Mother Earth.

Jakob Schubert from Austria has repeated Chris Sharma's Papichulo 9a+ at Oliana and on-sighted Aitzol 8c at Margalef. Gabriele Moroni has carried out the first repeat of Coup de Grace 9a by Dave Graham in the Canton Ticino, Switzerland.

The 59th Trento Film Festival takes place from 28 April to 8 May to celebrate mountains, society, cinema and literature. Numerous mountaineering personalities gather in Italy's Trento including Messner, Herzog, Bonatti, Mazeaud, Erri De Luca, Mauro Corona, Neri Marcoré, Enrico Brizzi and Mario Brunello.

The video of Ueli Steck and his speed ascent of Shisha Pangma (8027m), Tibet

At 13.40 Nepalese time Italian mountain Guide Abele Blanc reached the summit of Annapurna (8091m, Nepal, Himalaya). In doing so he has now ascended all 14 8000ers, and is the third Italian to do so without supplementary oxygen.

The film Towers of the Ennedi which documents the climbing expediton in Chad by James Pearson, Mark Synnott, Renan Ozturk and Alex Honnold.

Last Friday at Villanueva del Rosario, Spain, Adam Ondra made the first ascent of La planta de shiva 9b. A day later at Achidona he climbed three 8c's in a single day.

All five Vertical Sailing Greenland videos are now online documenting the climbing and sailing adventure of Nico Favresse, Olivier Favresse, Sean Villanueva and Ben Ditto on Greenland's big walls

On 20/04/2011 Dani Arnold from Switzerland climbed the Heckmair route up the North Face of the EIger in 2 hours 28 minutes, setting a new speed record up this historic line.

On 9 April, after 4 days on the wall and three bivvies, Hervé Barmasse reached the summit of Picco Muzio via a new 700m route up the great pillar located on the South Face. This is the first stage in a trilogy to explore the Alps during which Barmasse plans...

The Bouldering World Cup as seen through the (enamoured) eyes of Nicola Noè and Nicoletta Costi and the particular photos taken by Diego Neonati.

Some details about Ueli Steck's recent speed ascent of Shisha Pangma.

Interview with American climber Chris Sharma after his successful first ascent of First Round, First Minute at Margalef, Spain. 

The film dedicated to Guy Lacelle from Canada, one of the pioneers of ice climbing.

Video of Adam Ondra working Chilam Balam at Villanueva del Rosario, Spain.