The news

On 26/07/2009 Veikka Gustafson reached the summit of Gasherbrum I together with Japanese climber Kazuya Hiraide and four Bulgarians. For the mountaineer from Finland this seals his bid to climb all fourteen 8000m peaks without supplementary oxygen.

Carter and Geijsen out while Maurer forges ahead

Rock climbing on Gogarth in Wales, one of the best sea cliffs in Britain.

A new via ferrata called "Sci Club 18" has been created on Monte Faloria in Cortina, Dolomites.

Paolo Spreafico, climbing with Adriano Carnati, made a rare on-sight repeat of Batman in Wenden (Switzerland).

The Cortina Mountain Guides have comunicated that all the vie ferrate around Cortina can now be ascended.

On 9 July Ueli Steck from Switzerland reached the main summit of Gasherbrum II (8035m) along the normal route.

Beautiful crag dedicated to the late Roberto Bassi, located above romantic Lake Toblino and surprisingly never too crowded.

The 4th edition of the Red Bull X-Alps, the most demanding and exciting paragliding and running adventure race in the world, starts on 19 July.

Josune Bereziartu and Rikar Otegui have carried out the first free ascent of El Castillo de los Sacristanes in the Ordesa National Park, Spain.

On 15 June Rolando Larcher and Maurizio Oviglia carried out the first free ascent of Umbras (300m 8a max, 7b+ obl.). They had made the first ascent of this rout up the N Face of Punta Cusidore (Sardinia) in 2008.

Jenya Kazbekova from the Ukraine has sent her first 8a+/8b, New Kenigsberg at the Red Stone in the crimea, aged 12.

German climber Andreas Proft has managed to climb up to 8b without climbing shoes.

On 18/06/2009 Maja Vidmar from Slovenia climbed her first 8c+, Attila Lunga at the crag Baratro in NE Italy.

Andrea Pavan has had a good bouldering season in Northern Italy, with a series of hard repeats and first ascents close to Val di Mello, Valmasino.

Stanage Edge is the most famous gritstone crag in England. Located in the Peak District National Park, this 7km outcrop hosts over 1300 climbs of all grades.