The news

On 30 May British mountaineer Alan Hinkes reached the summit of Kangchenjunga (8586m). In doing so he became the first Briton to summit the world's fourteen 8000m peaks

Ueli Steck and his solo ascents of Cholatse and Tawoche in the Himalaya, in the words of Christine Kopp .

On 25 May Cristian Brenna managed to make the seventh redpoint of Underground 8c+/9a at Massone (Arco, Italy).

Flavio Crespi and Angela Eiter have won the third round of the Lead Worldcup 2005, held in Imst, Austria, last weekend.

On 09/05/2005 Josune Bereziartu made the first female ascent of Bimbaluna 9a/9a+ at Saint Loup, Switzerland, pushing the scale of female performances up one notch.

Christian Kuntner dies after being hit by an avalanche on Annapurna. Mario Panzeri, Mario Merelli, Daniele Bernasconi, Ed Viesturs from America and Veikka Gustafsson all reach the summit of Annapurna, while Romano Benet, Nives Meroi and Luca Vuerich have abandoned hopes of reaching the summit of Dhaulagiri.

Rock climbing on Kalymnos in Greece is simply a dream come true! Awesome limestone crags, stunning routes, a relaxed holiday atmosphere, the warm Aegean sea to dip into after a hard day on the rocks, legendary Greek hospitality and cuisine...

The Dhaulagiri 2005 expedition comprised of Romano Benet, Nives Meroi and Luca Vuerich forced to descend due to a storm at 7000m. Ed Vierstus currently on Annapurna summit push.

The Melloblocco international bouldering meeting organised in Valle di Mello by the Lombardy Mountain Guides took place from 7-8/05/05.

On 25 April by 21 year old Richard Simpson made the 5th ascent of Hubble 8c+, Raven Tor UK, first climbed by Ben Moon in 1990. Update 12/2010: Simpson's ascent of Hubble has been contested by diverse sources.

Angela Eiter from Austria and Ramón Julián Puigblanque from Spain have won the second round of the Lead Worldcup 2005 held in Puurs, Belgium, last weekend.

One of the most important Italian mountain chains for spring ski mountaineering: Cima Madriccio, Cima Marmotta, Palon de la Mare, Pizzo Tresero, Punta San Matteo.

Over 800 climbers have signed up for Melloblocco 2005, the international bouldering meeting in Val di Mello from 7-8 may 2005.

The Lead Worldcup 2005 started in Bulgaria's Veliko Tarnovo last weekend and was won by Italian Flavio Crespi and Austrian Angela Eiter.

Adam Ondra (12) and Martin Stranik (15) from the Czech Republic make impressive ascents in France and Italy, including Mascherina 8c (Grotta del Aeronauta, Sperlonga, 7PM JP Chaud 8c (Gorges de Loup), Chouca 8a+ onsight (Buoux)

On 21/04 the mythical 15° Trofeo Mezzalama ski mountaineering competition takes place on Monte Rosa. The start is Breuil Cervinia and the finish is at Gressoney La Trinité.