The news

Chinese authorities have closed access to Everest and nearby Cho Oyu, suspending climbing permits until 10 May.

On the 7th, of March Valery Babanov, Hervé Barmasse, Ettore Taufer, Giovanni Amort, Elio Sganga and Marco Farina (Alpine Training Centre), Christophe Profit and Pemba Doma Sherpa all received their Saint Vincent Awards for Mountain Professionals in front of a packed evening audience in the Casino of the Valley.

Nicolas Favresse invites all to reflect about the human impact of our vertical activity, and launches his appeal for sustainable climbing.

Simone Moro has established Camp 3 on Broad Peak (8047m) together with Shaheen Baig and Qudrat Ali. Summit push tomorrow.

Christian Core has freed his hardest problem ever, Gioia Fb8c at the Antro dei Druidi, Potala di Varazze (Italy).

Nicola Sartori and Nicola Tondini have made the first ascents of three new multi-pitches on Monte Cimo (Brentino, Val d’Adige, Italy). These are Vola via (8 pitches, max 8a+), Gioco di equilibri (5 pitches, max 7c+) and Via di testa (6 pitches, max 8b+, 7c obb).

On 27/02/08 Paolo Munari carried out the third ascent of Drumtime at Fonazaso, Italy.

Gerhard Schaar from Austria has established over 50 new routes at the Bangalore crags Badami and Ramanagaram, India.

Silvo Karo reports about the 2nd International Mountain Film Festival organized in Slovenia's capital Ljubljana and the city of Domžale.

The third and final stage of the Ice climbing World Cup took place in Switzerland's Saas Fee last weekend and was won by Angelika Rainer from Italy and Simon Anthamatten from Switzerland. The overall 2008 title went to Simon Anthamatten and Jenny Lavarda.

From 17-20/02/2008 Fabio Valseschini carried out the first solo winter ascent of the British route on the ENE Face of Piz Badile, while from 21-23/02/2008 Rossano Libera made the first solo winter ascent of the Cassin route up the NE Face.

The winners of the first Saint Vincent Award for mountain professionals. were announced in Valle d'Aosta last Thursday. The winners for 2008 are Valery Babanov, Christophe Profit, Hervé Barmasse, the Alpine Regiment Training Centre and Pemba Doma Sherpa. The Awards will be handed out on 7 March in Saint-Vincent, Valle...

Second repeat of “Illuminati” M11 WI6+ of the super multi-pitch mixed route in Vallunga (Val Gardena, Dolomites) at the hands of Erik Svab from Italy and Klemen Premrl from Slovenia.

On 07/02/2008 Rolando Larcher, Fabio Leoni and Elio Orlandi reached the summit of the Central Tower of Paine, Patagonia, via their new route called 'El Gordo, El Flaco y l'Abuelito' (1250m 7a+, A3+).

Andreas Bindhammer, one of Germany's foremost sports climbers, takes us on a climbing journey to the incredible Terradets, one of Spain's premier sports crags.

Ueli Steck from Switzerland has set a new speed record on the Eiger North face, climbing the Heckmair Route in 2:47:33.