The news

On 01/01/2008 the 4 Italian mountaineers belonging to the Centro Addestramento Alpino di Aosta reached Mount Vinson Base Camp after having crossed the Antarctic Patriot Hills.

Ice meetings in Argentière la Bessée (Fournel), France, Kandersteg, Switzerland and Valle di Daone (Italy),plus the Ice Climbing World Cup 2008 calendar.

Interview with Fred Rouhling after the first ascent of Salamandre at Saint-Pierre en Faucigny, which the French climber has graded 9?

The International Federation of Sport Climbing has been granted provisional recognition status by the International Olympic Committee. This is the first step towards the Olympics for sports climbing. An interview with Marco Scolaris the president of the IFSC.

In October and November 2007 Albert Leichtfried traveled to Madagscar and discovered the island climbing paradise. In addition he added a further five routes in his new sector Honeymoon.

Andy Turner, Steve Ashworth and Viv Scott have made an on-sight first ascent of "The Secret" X 10 on Ben Nevis.

The next edition of the world's most important mountaineering award will take place in Valle d’Aosta, Italy, and is organised by the Italian Region in collaboration with "Montagnes Magazine” and “Groupe Haute Montagne”.

Patxi Usobiaga, on tour and on firing form, proposes the world's first 8c+ on-sight, Bizi euskara at Etxauri, Spain.

Aleksandra Taistra redpoints Geminis 8b+ at Rodellar, Spain.

On December 5 the warehouse in which Alpinist housed its inventory burnt to the ground. The magazine has now launched an appeal to its readers.

The 5th Krakow Mountain Festival will take place on 5 - 9 December and will star Steph Davis, Mick Fowler and Dean Potter.

A selection of 10 fantastic icefalls in the world famous Ecrins National Park, France by Mountain Guide Mario Sertori.

The traditional 5th international Girivihar Open Bouldering Competition will take place on 25-27/01/2008 in Bombay (India). Furthermore, this competition will mark the start of a climbing tour to the most important climbing areas in India organised by Patrick Edlinger and Jean-Luc Jubert.

Hermann Erber and Kirsten Buchmann pay homage to Harald Berger with their picture book "Equilibrium". All proceeds will go to the Salzburg Mountain Guides Association which administers a fund to deal with similar emergency situations.

On Tuesday 27 November Patxi Usobiaga redpointed La Rambla 9a+ in Siurana, one of the reference routes for this incredible grade.

On 14/11 Giulia Monego and Marcello Cominetti reached the summit of Cerro Mariano Moreno 3456m (Hielo Continental Sur, Patagonia).