The news

On 02/05/07 British climber Dave Birkett made the first ascent of the multi-pitch trad line "Skye Wall", E7/8 6b on the remote Skye Wall, Loch Coruisk, Scotland

The Spanish mountaineers Ricardo Valencia and Santiago Sagaste died beneath an avalanche yesterday as they waited out a storm in the tent at Camp 2 on Dhaulagiri (8167m).

On 12/05/07 David Lama and Angela Eiter won the first stage of the Climbing Worldcup Lead 2007 held in Imst, Austria.

Nicolas Favresse has made the first ascent of"Gora gu ta gutarrak" 8c+, Yann Ghesquiers repeated "Titantrope" 8c+ at Kalymnos, Greece

On 02/05/07 Andreas Bindhammer from Germany made the fourth ascent La Rambla 9a+, Siurana, Spain

On 02.05.07 Silvio Mondinelli and Marco Confortola reached the summit of Cho Oyu (8201m) in just 19 hours and without supplementary oxygen.

On 02/05 Dave Macleod made the first ascent of Metalcore F8c+ at The Anvil, Scotland. This is now the hardest sports route in the country.

Melloblocco continues to be a great success. On Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 May more than 1000 boulderers gathered in Val di Mello for the 4th edition of the Melloblocco, the international bouldering meet organised by the Val Masino town council. As always, plenty of climbing, bouldering, parties, chance encounters...

On 29/05 the Swiss-Italian trio comprised of Giacomelli - Pellissier - Troillet won the XVI Mezzalama, the most challenging ski mountaineering race in the world. The women's event was won by the extraordinary Martinelli - Pedranzini - G.Pellissier, who in doing so also set a new course record.

Newsflash concerning Melloblocco nr. 4: all you need to know about the boulder problems and the new playground; the White Party will go ahead regardless of the weather; the arrival (and thoughts) of Jacky Godoffe... Melloblocco 2007 is just a few hours from kick-off and the number of pre-registered has...

On 28/04/2007 Kilian Fischhuber from Austria and Olga Shalagina from the Ukraine won the third stage of the IFSC Bouldering World Cup 2007.

On 27/04/07 James Pearson made the second ascent of "Trauma", E9 7a on Dinas Mot, Llanberis Pass, Wales.

Aleksandra Taistra from Poland sends her third 8c, "Die Hard" at the Gabbio, Ferentillo, Italy.

From 27/12/2006 to 7/04/2007 the Slovenian Mountain Guide Miha Valic climbed all 82 peaks over 4000m high catalogued in the UIAA list.

This spring a team of Sherpas will attempt to beat the Everest speed record and the total number of individual ascents. The group, led by 16 times summiter Apa Sherpa and speed record holder Lhakpa Gelu Sherpa, aims to promoted the Sherpa culture and raise funds for Sherpa children.

On Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 2007 Val di Mello will host the 4th edition of the Melloblocco.