The news

In August 2012 Christian Gaab, Uli Strunz, Benno Wagner, Toni Lamprecht and Paolo Maldi Dalmasso made the first ascent of Come animali nella bolla dei temporali (7c, 6c obl., 450m) up the NE Face of Corno Stella, Maritime Alps.

The 12th World Climbing Championship took place in Paris last week. Lead was won by the Austrians Jakob Schubert and - for a record breaking fourth time - Angela Eiter. Boulder was won by Mélanie Sandoz from France and - for the third time - Dmitry Sharafudtinov from Russia. Yuliya...

The Tor des Geants 2012 was won by Oscar Perèz (Spain) and Francesca Canepa (Italy). The race along the Valle d'Aosta paths at the foot of Mont Blanc (330km and 24.000 elevation gain) was completed by 392 athletes.

This August the Slovak climbers Dodo Kopold and Michal Sabovcik forged a new line up the NW Face of Great Trango Tower (6286m), Karakorum. Their "Out of Reality" ends on the shoulder circa 400m below the summit.

This summer Luka Krajnc and Luka Lindic made the first ascent of Forest Gump (VIII+, 650m), a new rock climb up the North Face of Rocchetta Alta, Bosconero, Dolomites.

On 12/09/2012 the Gorges du Loup in France Matteo Gambaro has climbed his first 9a, Abyss.

Paris is hosting the World Climbing Championships 2012 from 12 - 16 September.

In Australia Kilian Fischhuber has made the first ascent of Southern Delight 8c+ at the Taipan Wall, the Grampians.

Errata: contrary to what we published previously, Via Leila on Cima Cason de Formin (Croda da Lago, Dolomites) is not a new route but a lower variation (5 pitches) to Via Leber Kenedi first ascended in 1990 by Federico Michielli and Michele Da Pozzo.

On 7 - 8 September 2012 Alessandro Baù, Alessandro Beber and Nicola Tondini made the first free ascent of Colonne d'Ercole (1200m, max IX, obl. VIII+) up Punta Tissi on the NW Face of Civetta, Dolomites, the great new route they established between 2009 and 2012.

On 11/08/2012 Stefano Codazzi and Daniele Natali made the first ascent Alien (7a+, 150m), a new climb up the South Face of Presolana Centrale.

Cortina Mountain Guida Enrico Maioni presents Via Leila, a new climb up Cason de Formin in the Dolomites first ascended by Aldo Vascellari, Federico Zanettin and Giovanni Zanettin.

Engaging video portrait of British alpinist Nick Bullock.

Photo report of the The North Face Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc 2012.

The videos screened during Arco Rock Legends 2012 with Stefan Glowacz, winner of the  Climbing Ambassador by Aquafil 2012, Sasha DiGiulian (winner of the Salewa Rock Award), Iker Pou, Adam Ondra, Dave Graham and Daniel Woods, Anna Stöhr (winner of the La Sportiva Competition Award), Kilian Fischhuber, Jacob Schubert.

American alpinists Hayden Kennedy and Kyle Dempster have made the third ascent of Ogre (Baintha Brakk) 7,285m in Karakorum via a new route up the South Face.