The news

On 29 September James Pearson made the first ascent of 'The Walk of Life' at Dyer's Lookout, North Devon, at E12 7a a strong contender for one of the hardest trad routes in the world.

The fifth stage of the Lead World Cup took place in Puurs, Belgium last weekend and was won by Maja Vidmar and Ramón Julian Puigblanque. The two beat Mina Markovic and Johanna Ernst and Tomasz Mrazek and Jorg Verhoeven, second and third respectively.

On 11 September Chris Sharma made the first ascent of Jumbo Love 9b at Clark Mountain, California, describing it as his hardest climb ever.

From 23 July to 9 August Silvia Vidal and Youri Cappis carried out the first ascent of "Entre boires" A3/6a+/80º on the East Face of Huascaran North (Cordillera Blanca, Peru).

At the end of August 2008 Rolando Larcher completed AlexAnna (700m, 8a+/8b, 7b obl.), a new route up Pilastro Lindo on the SW Face of Punta Penia (Marmolada, Dolomites).

With over 150 routes up to 9a+, Malham Cove is one of the finest limestone sport climbing crags in England.

The portfolio of the spectators at the 22nd Rock Master in Arco by Giulio Malfer.

Nicola Tondini, Nicola Sartori and Michele Zandegiacomo have completed their new "La perla preziosa" - IX+ (7c+) - on the West Face of Sass dla Crusc (Dolomites, Val Badia).

uring the Rock Master last weekend, Adam Ondra climbed Claudio Caffè 8c/8c+ (Terra Promessa) and St. Anger 8c+/9a (Eremo di San Paolo) at Arco, Italy.

On 05/08/2008 the third edition of the ARCO ROCK LEGENDS 2008 was celebrated in the Casinò in Arco. Adam Ondra won the SALEWA ROCK AWARD while Maja Vidmar won the LA SPORTIVA COMPETITION AWARD.

Kilian Fischhuber and Jorg Verhoeven have been active in Austria's Zillertal, making the first ascents of Dolby surround 8c+ and Ichi Ban 8c.

Climbing in two areas of the Austria's idyllic Zillertal, the Zillergrundwald and Ginzling Taufenkopf is at risk due to quarrying. Local climbers are asking all climbers for support and protest signatures.

David Lama from Austria and Jorg Verhoeven from Holland have carried out the first ascent of "Desperation of the Northface", an 820m line with difficulties up to 7b on the Sagwand (3227m) in the Zillertal Alps, Austria.

The expert Slovenian mountaineer Pavle Kozjek has been missing on Muztagh Tower, Karakorum, Pakistan since 25 August. His partner Dejan Miskovic has been rescued and is safe in Base Camp.

The qualifiying round in World Cup Climbing competitions will no longer be carried out with the standard on-sight format, but flash according to an IFSC rule change

On 6/08 American climber Dean Potter carried out the first FreeBASE ascent of Deep Blue Sea (Eiger, 5.12+/7b+), climbing without a rope but with a B.A.S.E. parachute.