The news

The Dhaulagiri 2005 expedition comprised of Romano Benet, Nives Meroi and Luca Vuerich forced to descend due to a storm at 7000m. Ed Vierstus currently on Annapurna summit push.

On 25 April by 21 year old Richard Simpson made the 5th ascent of Hubble 8c+, Raven Tor UK, first climbed by Ben Moon in 1990. Update 12/2010: Simpson's ascent of Hubble has been contested by diverse sources.

One of the most important Italian mountain chains for spring ski mountaineering: Cima Madriccio, Cima Marmotta, Palon de la Mare, Pizzo Tresero, Punta San Matteo.

Over 800 climbers have signed up for Melloblocco 2005, the international bouldering meeting in Val di Mello from 7-8 may 2005.

Adam Ondra (12) and Martin Stranik (15) from the Czech Republic make impressive ascents in France and Italy, including Mascherina 8c (Grotta del Aeronauta, Sperlonga, 7PM JP Chaud 8c (Gorges de Loup), Chouca 8a+ onsight (Buoux)

Tomas Mrazek from the Czech Republic has redpointed Martin Krpan 9a, and onsighted Karisma 8b+ and Bastilija 8b+ at Misja Pec, Slovenia

A boulderining meeting at Cresciano and Chironico (Switzerland) will take place on 16-17 April 2005.

Europe's larget bouldering meeting is fast approachiing: on 7-8 May the second edition of the Melloblocco will take place in the splendid Val di Mello, Italy

From 17 to 21 March Patrick Gabarrou, Philippe Batoux and Christophe Dumarest made the first ascent of a new route on the North Face of Punta Margherita (4066m) at the Grandes Jorasses, Mont Blanc.

in February Scott Muir from Scotland managed to make an important first ascent 'Tsunami' M12, at the Mission Impossible Cave in Northern Italy.

On 30/03 Romano Benet, Nives Meroi, Luca Vuerich, Inaki Ochoa, Erri De Luca, Cesare Giuliani, Roberto Alloi, Mario Cedolin, Klemen Gricar, Christan Stangl, Peter Guggemos and Ivan Vallejo depart for Dhaulagiri., then Annapurna.

The Gurschen glacier (Andermatt, Switzerland) will be wrapped in plastic to prevent it from melting due to global warming.

The Bouldering Worldcup 2005 got underway in Birmingham, UK, on 18-20 March and was won by local Mark Croxall and Sandrine Levet.

On 15 March Luca Parisse repeated Karma 8a+ at Fontainebleau, Paris, France.

On 17 March Nicola Tondini and Nicola Sartori carried out the third ascent (and first winter ascent) of “Moulin Rouge” on the red-faced Roda di Vael in the Dolomites, first climbed in June 2002 by Oswald Celva and Christof Hainz.

The American Alpinist Magazine announced today that it has received Print Magazine’s 2004 Regional Design Award for the cover of Alpinist 6