The news

On 10 December 2012 the bolts were removed from the sports climb Eterno Riposo, Eternal Rest, at Ceredo in Italy. On his blog Andrea Tosi, the man who first bolted the climb and now removed the bolts, explains his actions.

While Italian climbers Gabriele Moroni and Silvio Reffo are now at Siurana, at Montsant in Spain Jacopo Larcher has onsighted his second 8b+, Les Elements.

An analysis of the youth climbing competition scene and interview with European Lead Tina Johnsen Hafsaas. An article by Franz Schiassi.

The report by Luka Lindic of his latest climbing trip to Iran with Sam Beaugey , Manu Pellissier and Marko Prezelj during which they made the first ascent of Golden spatula (1000m, 6b) up Bisotoon.

The video of Nina Caprez and Cedric Lachat repeating Silbergeier (8b/8b+, 240m) in the Rätikon, Switzerland.

Two new difficult icefalls in Austria's Gasteinertal established by Thomas Bubendorfer, Sepp Inhöger and Hans Zlöbl: Triple A and The usual suspects

At Santa Linya in Spain Jakob Schubert has redpointed Ciudad de Dios 9a.

At Cresciano in Switzerland Michele Caminati has made the first ascent of the boulder problem The North Sail 8A+.

The second video of Andreas Fransson and his extreme skiing expedition to Patagonia, with the first ski descent of the Whillans ramp on Aguja Poincenot.

The second video of Andreas Fransson and his extreme skiing expedition to Patagonia, with the first ski descent of the Whillans ramp on Aguja Poincenot.

On 23 December Ivo Ferrari and Dario Spreafico repeated Lo Spigolo Maria Grazia on the East Face of Castello Provenzale (Valle Maira, Hautes Alpes). The report Ivo Ferrari.

Colin Haley and Jon Walsh have made the first free ascent of Tobogan (700m, AI4, M6) on Cerro Standhardt, Patagonia.

Switzerland's Claude Remy provides a chronological analysis of the evolution free climbing (bouldering and difficulty). An article which clearly is not and cannot be definitive, but is merely a stimulus for further analysis and discussion about the evolution of this sport.

The video profile of one of the strongest female boulderers, Stella Marchisio.

The interactive photo taken by David Breashears which explores Everest and the Khumbu glacier.

A sample of carabiners and quickdraws have been tested and analised by Emanuele Pellizzari at the Italian Mountaineering Club Gear and Techniques laboratory at Taggì di Sopra, Villafranca Padovana, Padova, Italy.