The news

At the end of April the Croatian Paklenica National Park, famed for its natural beauty and, amongst climbers, for its compact Verdon-like limestone, will host the fourth edition of the “Big Wall Speed Climbing”.

Robert Jasper and Markus Stofer have repeated the great mixed climb 'No Siesta' up the North Face of the Grandes Jorasses in the Mont Blanc massif from 17 - 19 March 2003 .

Ezio Marlier and Arnaud Clavel repeat Goulotte Nord by Patrik Gabarrou and together with Massimo Farina makes the first ascent of Stop the War at Aiguille de la Brenva, Mont Blanc

On 28/02/2003 the two Italian mountain guides Roberto Rossi and Ivano Bianchi opened a newline up the North Face of Roccia Nera (4075 m, Monte Rosa).

The classic international ski mountaineering race was won by the duo Patrick Blanc and Toni Sbalbi, vice world champions and winners of the Pierra Menta 2003, and the world champions Valérie Ducognon and Delphine Oggeri.

During a recent trip to Fontainebleau, Paris, Luca Parisse sent “C'était demain", 8a, and La chose, 7c+

Ice climbing belays / How to construct belays on ice as safely as possible.

Saturday April 5th 2003, first edition of A5 Day, international bouldering day organised by The North Face in co-operation with leading climbing halls across Europe.

Mauro Bubu Bole and Riccardo Milani abandon hopes of forging a new line up the South Face of Cerro Torre, Patagonia

Interview with ground-breaking Scottish climber Alan Mullin - searching for the mixed climbing psychological extreme at Lochnagar in Scotland.

On 23 March Stefano Imperatori, Renzo Rossini and Germana Maiolatesi set out to make the first descent from the East summit of Corno Grande, Gran Sasso d'Italia, after having completed another "first descent" down the Galluccio crest, Monte Vettore, at the start of the month together with Andreas Brink.

The closing date for the 8th Banff Mountain Photography Competition, the prestigious Canadian photographic competition, is 30 May 2003

Maurizio Oviglia continues to forge new routes in Sardinia.

Grega Kresal from Slovenia has recently made a demanding first ascent of Attic M11+ in the Planica valley, Julian Alps.

Stefano Alippi has made the third repeat Les Sindacalistes, Cornalba's famous 8c+.

The 8C boulder problem established by Fred Nicole at Cresciano, repeated by Christian Core. Photos by Andrea Gallo, video by Marzio Nardi.