The news

At the end of December a Japanese expedition led by Osamu Tanabe managed to climb the south Fasce of Lhotse (8516m) in winter, but turned back 40m short of the summit.

On 30-31 March the European Bouldering and Difficulty Champion David Lama will spend two days climbing at Cornalba and San Pellegrino Terme, invited by the local mountaineering groups Camosci, Fancy Mountain and Cai di Zogno.

At the end of February Albert Leichtfried, Markus Bendler, Ines Papert and Audrey Gariepy travelled to Iceland to explore its potential in memory of their friend Harald Berger who died tragically in December 2006.

The 22nd Pierra Menta was won by the Frenchmen Perrier - Gachet and the Italians Martinelli - Pedranzini

The bouldering meeting at Chironico and Cresciano (Canton Ticino - Switzerland) will take place on 24-25/03/2007.

The fourth edition of UP - European Climbing report edited by Maurizio Oviglia and Eugenio Pinotti and published by Versante Sud will go to press on 20 March.

On 21 February Ueli Steck from Switzerland climbed the North Face of the Eiger in a record time of 3.54.

Erik Svab flashes the dry tooling route "Mix isch fix" M10+ at the Grotta di Landro, Dolomites.

On 02/03/07 Barbara Raudner sent Hobbygärtner Fb7c+ in the Kremstal, Austria

On Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th of May 2007, Val di Mello will host the fourth edition of Melloblocco, the international outdoors bouldering meeting in Northern Italy

The American Alpine Journal is available online as of today.

In February Gabriele Moroni repeated Odi social 8c+ at Siurana (Spain), the latest in his long list of extreme repeats.

At the end of December a German team led by Stefan Glowacz and Kurt Albert travelled to Venezuela where it established "Fegefeuer" IX, a new 700m route on Akopan Tepui, 2200m.

On 09/02/2007 Ines Papert repeated "Law and Order", Markus Bendler's M13 at the Diebsöfen in Austria. This is the first-ever M13 female ascent.

Albert Leichtfried, Markus Bendler, Ines Papert and Audrey Gariepy have set off for Iceland to explore its potential in memory of their friend Harald Berger who died tragically in December 2006.

From 21 - 26 January 2007 the Italians Elio Orlandi, Michele Cagol, Fabio Leoni and Rolando Larcher made the first ascent of "Osa ma non troppo", a 700m line up the E Face of Cerro Cota 2000 (Torres del Paine, Patagonia). A beautiful route, great company and a fantastic adventure...