The news

On 02/06/2012 Fabio Failla and Luigi Filocamo made the first ascent of Monaco di Clausura (5 pitches, 6c max, 6b+ obligatory) up the north face of Pizzo Monaco, San Vito Lo Capo, Sicily.

Video of the trad climbing meeting Tradannot at Annot in France.

Ascending Rhythm, two video clips by Sterling Johnson and Ron Kauk about climbing as an interior journey into nature, set in the fantastic Yosemite Valley.

An update by Alessandro Cortinovis, director of the Valle D'Aosta Mountain Rescue Service about the avalanche on Mont Maudit which at 5:30 this morning killed 9 alpinists and injured 14 others.

This morning an avalanche on Mount Maudit (Mont Blanc) killed 9 alpinists. 9 others have been injured, and unfortunately this toll is still only provisional.

Contrary to Cathy O'Dowd's Twitter message last night, the South African alpinist has now published new messaged in which she makes clear that the summit has not yet been reached,. Her climbing partners Sandy Allan, Rick Allen and the Sherpa Rangduk and Zarok are currently on a summit push.

The expedition comprised of Cathy O’Dowd, Sandy Allan and Rick Allen has just reached the summit of Nanga Parbat after having climbed the entire Mazeno Ridge.

Four years after their first attempt, Martin and Florian Riegler now return to the Karakorum, Pakistan, together with Austrians Monika Mehlmauer and Christoph Mohl to attempt the virgin Darwo Chhok Peak (5850m).

On Friday 6 July at Selva di Val Gardena (Italy) Marina Kopteva and Anna Yasinskaya from the Ukraine and Galina Chibitok from Russia received the Karl Unterkircher Award 2012 for their new route established in 38 days up the NW Face of Great Trango Tower (Pakistan).

Big news comes from the fresh Dinorwig slate quarries in Wales where British climber James McHaffie has freed an old project which over the years had come to be known as The Meltdown project.

The second video which anticipates the The North Face Kalymnos Climbing Festival which will take place from 26 -30 September 2012 on the Greek climbing island.

At Stennis Ford in Pembroke, Wales, Charlie Woodburn has made the first ascent of Something's Burning E9 7a.

From 24 - 27 June 2012 British alpinists Nick Bullock and Andy Houseman made a rare repeat of the Slovak Direct route up Denali (6194m) in Alaska.

The second post of Clement Pedrotti's video blog from the bouldering area Rocklands in South Africa.

The expedition of Sandy Allan, Rick Allen and Cathy O’Dowd to attempt the unclimbed Mazeno Ridge on Nanga Parbat, Pakistan.

The Lead World Cup 2012 begins in mid July with the first stage in Chamonix, France.