The news

Hansjörg Auer reminds all how important it is to tie a knot into the end of the rope, even at the crag.

American climber Kevin Jorgeson has made the first ever ground up ascent of an E9 gritstone climb, Parthian Shot E9 6c, Burbage, England.

In summer 2007 Marco Sterni, Mauro Kraus, Marco Giuffrida and Serena Bonin carried out the first ascent of 'Quel calcare nell'anima' (380m, 6c, 6b obl.) on the West Face of Tofana di Rozes (Dolomites). In summer 2008 Sterni and Mauro Florit made the first ascent of the nearby 'Mai molar!...

The American Alpinist magazine has suspended operations due to the world financial crisis.

From 21 September to 9 October an Italian team led by of Mauro Florit visited Morocco's Taghia, where they carried out the first ascent of "Mai molar berbère" on the SE Face of Tagoujimt n'Tsouiannt (TD+, 500 metri, max 6+).

With more than 500 routes, Muzzerone is one of the most important areas in Italy for sport climbing.

Vincent Anderson and Marko Prezelj have carried out the first ascent of the unclimbed West Face of Makalu II (7678 m).

A Japanese expedition claims to have photographed footprints of the Yeti on Dhaulagiri IV.

At the start of October Nicolas Favresse and Sean Villanueva added a new free route, "The Secret Passage" 5.13c to El Capitan, Yosemite.

Exclusive interview with James Pearson after his first ascent of The Walk of Life E12 7a at Dyer's Lookout, North Devon, England.

On 15 August Thomas Huber climbed all three Tre Cime di Lavaredo peaks and B.A.S.E. jumped off Cima Ovest and Cima Grande.

At the end of September Angelika Rainer carried out the first female ascent of Italia 61 (220m, 8a),the historic aid route on Piz Ciavazes, Sella, Dolomites.

Yuji Hirayama and Hans Florine have once again broken their Speed record on The Nose, El Capitan, climbing the route in 2:37:05

With Moon Hill, The White Mountain and 30 other crags, Yangshuo is one of the most important and interesting areas for rock climbing in China.

At the end of September and the start of October Maurizio Oviglia, Sara Oviglia, Paolo Seimandi and Eugenio Pinotti completed two new multi-pitch routes on the Sergent rock face in Valle Orco. They then added two single pitches to the wall and another to the Dado.

33 year old Diego Sirtori has repeated Play the cross 8c at Scudi Di Valgrande, Lecco.