The news

On 31/03/2012 David Lama solo climbed the new route Badlands (700m, 6a M5 WI4 A1) up the unnamed face between Sagwand and Hohe Kirche in the Valsertal, Tyrol, Austria

The video of Ramon Julián Puigblanque climbing Escalatamasters 9a at Perles in Spain.

The Bouldering World Cup 2012 begins in April with the first stage in Chongqing (China), followed by Log-Dragomer (SLO), Vienna (AUT), Innsbruck (AUT), Vail (USA) and Munich (GER).

The great crag Pian Bernardo, with almost 90 routes from 6b - 8c+ high up in Val Tanaro, Piemonte, Italy, introduced by Matteo Pino and Anna Gonzalez.

The trailer for the film Autana and the route The Yopo Wall, established by Leo Houlding and companions on Cerro Autanta in Venezuela.

Video of the final stage of the Ice Climbing World Cup 2012 which took place in Kirov, Russia and was won by Angelika Rainer and Maxim Tomilov.

On 29/03/2012 at the Tetto di Sarre (Valle d'Aosta, Italy) Tito Traversa sent Sarsifal, his first 8b+.

April heralds the start of Rockshow 2012, the tour promoted by Salewa and open to everyone. This journey across nine European cuontries aims to discover the climber with the "vertical X-factor" and will culminate in July with the final at the Outdoor fair in Friedrichshafen. Registration is open for all...

Yesterday in England's Ilkley Quarry Michele Caminati made a rare repeat of the gritstone route The New Statesman E8 7a.

Today, Friday 30 March 2012 at 11:30 at Mater Ecclesiae in Sassari, the final farewell to Lorenzo Castaldi “Enzolino”, for the numerous alpinists and climbers who met him at the crags, in the mountains and the alpine forums for which he was one of the most impassioned and careful contributors.

The videos of the six ascents nominated for the Piolet d'Or 2012, awarded to the Slovenians Nejc Marcic and Luka Strazar for their ascent of K7 West (Pakistan) and the Americans Mark Richey, Steve Swenson and Freddie Wilkinson for their ascent of Torre Egger (Patagonia) by Bjorn-Eivind Aartun and Ole...

From 28 February to 20 March Hansjörg Auer established The Music of Chance on the Kristallwand face up Kirchkogel in Austria

The video of The Shining, the route established by Sonnie Trotter and Tommy Caldwell on Mount Louis in Canada.

On 24 March 2012 Maurizio "Manolo" Zanolla made the first ascent of Roby Present (35m, proposed grade 8c+/9a) in Val Noana (Pale di San Martino, Dolomites). Established by Manolo, the route is dedicated to his friend Roberto Bassi.

The Game M13 at the Cineplex Cave in Canada has been repeated by Gordon McArthur.

Adam Ondra has freed the route To tu jeste nebyl 9a, bolted ground-up together with Ondra Benes at Labak in the Czech Republic. Adam Ondra reports.