The news

The 8th Ice Master will take place in Valle di Daone, Italy from 16 - 25 January. With its Difficulty and Speed events, this competition marks the start of the ice Climbing World Cup 2009. The 11th edition of the La Sportiva International Ice Meeting is open to all and...

Bogdan Rokosz establishes 'Sprawa Honoru' 9a at the Mamutowa Cave in Poland.

A selction of some of the best and most representative icefalls in the Tyrol, Austria, by local Mountain Guide Albert Leichtfried.

Ryan Pasquill has made the first ascent of the impressive gritstone line to the left of The New Statesman at Ilkley, England. The route has been called Gerty Berwick.

Kevin Jorgeson from America has made the first ascent of the super highball 'Ambrosia' at the Buttermilks, Bishop and the first repeat of Luminance V11.

On 26 December 2008 the brothers Florian and Martin Riegler mande the first ascent of 'Sorella bianca“ (M9 WI6-), a new drytooling and mixed route in Val Lunga (Val Gardena, Dolomites, Italy).

On 28 December 2008 Ueli Steck from Switzerland climbed the classic Colton - Macintyre route up the North Face of the Grandes Jorasses in in a mere 2 hours and 21 minutes, setting a new record for the wall and climbing all three great North Faces of the Alps in...

Dave Macleod has carried out the first repeat of The Walk of Life at Dyer's Lookout, North Devon, England, downgrading the route to E9 6c.

The Italian mountaineer Riccardo Cassin celebrates his 100th birthday today.

The Adamello Ski resort is one of the most famous ski resorts in Italy for off-piste skiing. Local Mountain Guide Cain Olsen introduces the classic descents.

In mid December the British climbers Nick Bullock and Neil Brodie established 'Who needs sex, we get hotaches' WI6 100m at Mont Saxonnex, France.

In September 2008 Martin and Florian Riegler made the first ascent of "Pandora" (8 pitches, max 8b) on the Mandrea wall at Arco, Italy. In October the two South Tyroleans redpointed all pitches individually, but the route still awaits its first free ascent.

Fonzaso, the beautiful small crag at the foot of the Dolomites, with 40 routes up to 8c+ ideal for winter climbing

Albert Leichtfried, one of the best ice climbers of his generation, examines the state of drytooling in Austria and reports about his new route 'Encore' M13 at the Dryland above Innsbruck

Mark Glaister, author of the recently published El Chorro guidebook, reveals why the area in general, and Las Encantadas in particular, is sport climbing heaven in Andalusia, southern Spain.

At the start of the week Dave Macleod made the first ascent of Yo Bro VIII, 9 at Mullach nan Coirean, Mamores, Scotland.