The news

On 18/01/09 Francesco Vaudo, Andrea Gamberini and Elio Bonfanti made the first ascent of Gondo Gully (300m, II-M4-4), a gully on the Parete nascosta in the Gondoschlucht (Simplon Pass, Ossola, Switzerland).

Between Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 January four Italian mountaineers from Turin lost their lives while attempting to climb on the NW Face of Aiguille du Midi.

Ines Papert debuts in the Himalaya with Cory Richards and forges 'Cobra Norte' (WI5, M8, TD & R) up the North Face of Kwangde Shar 6093m, Nepal, Himalaya.

On 18/01/09 Markus Bendler from Austria and Maria Tolokonina from Russia won the 8th Ice Master in Valle di Daone, valid as the first stage of the Difficulty Ice Climbing World Cup 2009. Maria Tolokonina also won the Speed event together with teammate Pavel Gulyaev.

Last weekend Gabriele Moroni visited the historic Lumignano Classica in N. Italy and returned home with a climbing sweep-stake: flash ascents of Boomerang 8a+ and Atomic Café 8a, and a fantastic 2nd go ascent of Mare Allucinante 8b+.

The 8th Ice Master will take place in Valle di Daone, Italy from 16 - 25 January. With its Difficulty and Speed events, this competition marks the start of the ice Climbing World Cup 2009. The 11th edition of the La Sportiva International Ice Meeting is open to all and...

Ryan Pasquill has made the first ascent of the impressive gritstone line to the left of The New Statesman at Ilkley, England. The route has been called Gerty Berwick.

Kevin Jorgeson from America has made the first ascent of the super highball 'Ambrosia' at the Buttermilks, Bishop and the first repeat of Luminance V11.

On 26 December 2008 the brothers Florian and Martin Riegler mande the first ascent of 'Sorella bianca“ (M9 WI6-), a new drytooling and mixed route in Val Lunga (Val Gardena, Dolomites, Italy).

On 28 December 2008 Ueli Steck from Switzerland climbed the classic Colton - Macintyre route up the North Face of the Grandes Jorasses in in a mere 2 hours and 21 minutes, setting a new record for the wall and climbing all three great North Faces of the Alps in...

Dave Macleod has carried out the first repeat of The Walk of Life at Dyer's Lookout, North Devon, England, downgrading the route to E9 6c.

The Italian mountaineer Riccardo Cassin celebrates his 100th birthday today.

In mid December the British climbers Nick Bullock and Neil Brodie established 'Who needs sex, we get hotaches' WI6 100m at Mont Saxonnex, France.

In September 2008 Martin and Florian Riegler made the first ascent of "Pandora" (8 pitches, max 8b) on the Mandrea wall at Arco, Italy. In October the two South Tyroleans redpointed all pitches individually, but the route still awaits its first free ascent.

Fonzaso, the beautiful small crag at the foot of the Dolomites, with 40 routes up to 8c+ ideal for winter climbing

Albert Leichtfried, one of the best ice climbers of his generation, examines the state of drytooling in Austria and reports about his new route 'Encore' M13 at the Dryland above Innsbruck