The news

Dave MacLeod has climbed his first 8c+, "L’odi Social" at Siurana, Spain to discover how this compares to cutting edge trad routes in Britain, such as his Rhapsody E11 7a.

Valdo Chilese redpoints El sior Favonio 8c at Fonzaso, N. Italy, and together with climbing partner Nicola Pesavento repeats Belfagor 8b+.

On 11/02 the third and final stage of the Ice Climbing World Cup took place in Busteni (Romania) and was won by Evgeny Krivosheitsev from the Ukraine and Jenny Lavarda from Italy.

Winter ski mountaineering in the Julian Alps is both severe and complex, but at the same time it offers a great deal and reveals itself slowly to those willing to find out more.

On 03/02 Evgeny Kryvosheytsev and Jenny Lavarda won the second stage of the Ice World Cup 2007 in Saas Fee and in doing so also won the Ice Difficulty World Championships.

Last December four Italian Ragni di Lecco climbers travelled to Mali where they made three new first ascents in the Hombori region of the African republic.

On 01/02 Simone Moro and Shaheen reached Camp 3. In a few days time they will make their first summit attempt.

Simone Moro is currently engaged in his winter attempt of Broad Peak (8048m, Karakorum, Pakistan).

On 26 January 2007 Marko Prezelj and Boris Lorencic from Slovenia were awarded the "Golden ice axe" for their new route on Chomo Lhari. Pavle Kozjek was awarded the Spectators Choice for his new route climbed solo up Cho Oyu. This was the 16th edition of the mountaineering award, created...

On Friday 16 January 2007 the five teams nominated for the award will present their ascent to the public and the (desired and prestigious) golden ice axe will be awarded to the "ascent of the year".

The Polish attempt to climb Nanga Parbat in winter led by Krzysztof Wielicki has been called off and the the entire team is safely back in base camp.

In a thrilling final Jenny Lavarda and Markus Bendler have won the first stage of the Ice Climbing World Cup 2007 in Valle di Daone, Italy.

Markus Bendler (Aut), Mario Prinot (Ita), Alkexey Tomilov (Rus) and Albert Leichtfried (Aut) lead the provisional results.

James Pearson makes the first ascent of "The Promise" E10 7a, at Burbage North, Dave McLeod repeats "Blind Vision" at Froggat and Ben Cossey from Australia makes an audacious headtorch repeat of John Dunne's famous The Parthion Shot E9 6c.

Valdo Chilese (17) redpoints Shalom 8b+ at Covolo and Mare Allucinante and La Stangata 8b+ at Lumignano. Silvio Reffo (16) ascends Super Titti 8a+ at Covolo and at Lumignano Classica Boomerang 8a+ and Mare Allucinante 8b+.

From Friday 19 January to Sunday 21 January the most famous international ice climbing competition in the world, the Ice Master World Cup, will take place in Italy's Valle di Daone.