Keyword: first ascent

In April 2026, Bouin successfully completed his project "Le Chant des Muses" on the Romeyer Wall in the Drôme region. A film by Black Diamond shows the exceptional French climber behind the scenes and his journey to the successful ascent.

Silvan Schüpbach and Janluca Kostner have made the first complete free climb of "Untergang der Titanen" (8a) on the north face of the Gross Wellhorn. The 600-meter route in the Bernese Alps remains consistently difficult over its 20 pitches.

Eneko and Iker Pou have free climbed "Vicios Ocultos" (7c, 285 m) on Tiro Pedabejo in the Picos de Europa for the first time, one year after the Basque brothers had opened the six pitches themselves.

The 18th Walter Bonatti – Piolets d'Or Lifetime Achievement Award goes to Peter Habeler. The Austrian will receive the award at the end of October in Oisans, France, where the Piolets d'Or are returning after ten years.

For their project, the Basque professional climbers once again teamed up with Peruvian Micher Quito. They describe "Bonus Track" (WI7/M6/6c/1.060 m) on the 6,000-meter peak Ranrapalca as their most difficult alpine route to date.

A summer trip with a twist: Jernej Kruder, along with Silvan Schupbach and Filippo Sala, established a new route in South Greenland from July 26th to 28th, 2026. Spread over 19 pitches and 600 meters of climbing, the trio left behind only one bolt.

Simon Gietl from South Tyrol regularly establishes new routes in the Alps. His latest first ascent: »Born Ready« (9, 115 m) on the Hintere Geierwand.

US boulderer Katie Lamb has established her hardest route to date, "130 BPM" (8C). This is an impressive achievement, highlighting the rarity of female first ascents at this grade.