The news

Alexandre Chabot and Chloè Minoret win the second stage of the World Cup Difficulty 2003 in Yekaterinburg, Russia

In just 5 hours, 15 minutes and 47 seconds Pierre Gignoux and Stéphan Brosse climb Mont Blanc from Chamonix

The Comune of Domusnovas, Sardinia organised a meeting a few days ago to promote the Iglesiente area, its 600 routes and the enormous San Giovanni cave.

Mauro Bubu Bole repeats Strelovod, 8c at Misja Pec, Ospo

Mount Everest was first climbed 50 years ago today by Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay. Clebrations are mared by a helicopter crash at Base Camp in Nepal, killing 2 and wounding at least 7.

Alexandre Chabot and Muriel Sarkany, winners of the World Cup Difficulty 2002, won the first stage of the World Cup 2003 in Imst (AUT) on Saturday 24 May.

Il 20/05, Silvio Mondinelli, Merelli, Pauner, Kuntner and Reichen reached the summit of Cima del Kangchenjunga.

Josune Bereciartu’s short trip to Switzerland at the start of May resulted in a repeat of Fred Nicole’s 1994 “E la nave va”, an 8c traverse in the Lindental.

On 23/05 Manuela Di Centa becomes the first italian women to climb Everest, while Jean-Christophe Lafaille climbs Dhaulagiri on 20/05

news from Everest base Camp in the 2003 pre-monsson season. Fabio Meraldi in 24 hour summit attempt

Cristian Brenna and Marzio Nardi free the historic Itaca in Valle dell'Orco. The photos and story by Andrea Gallo.

On 14/05 Christian Bindhammer repeated Action Direct 9a in the Frankenjura, first climbed by Wolfgang Güllich in 1991.

On 24 April the Italian climber Stefania Daniele repeated “La danza dei cavalieri”, 8a+, at the Grotta dell’Areonauta, Sperlonga.

On 13/04 Christian Bindhammer frees "Zauberfee" 8c+, at the Eremo di S. Paolo (Arco). And his brother Andreas Bindhammer repeats it a few days later.

Luca Giupponi spent his Easter holiday in France's St. Leger du Ventoux, where he on-sighted his first 8b, “Stiquell Man”. he then spent the remaining days redpointing Abregenenief” 8b, “Moi…” 8a/8a+ and “Le maride de la balene” 8a+.

Alexandre Chabot and Martina Cufar win the Goldfinger International Master 2003 in Brussels on 26/05/2003