The news

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...

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.

Riccarda de Eccher's exhibition "Watercolor, Pastel"is on show in Cortina at the "libreria Sovilla" until 15 April 2007

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).

At the end of December 2006 Matej Sova succeeded in the first ascent of his "Ekstaza", at Misja Pec, a 40m 90 move stamina testpiece which he believes to be somewhere in the region of 8c+/9a.

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.