Keyword: first ascent

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.

British alpinist Fay Manners made three first ascents of difficult mixed routes in the Swiss Alps between January and April. A powerful statement in the still male-dominated world of professional alpinism – especially for challenging first ascents of mixed routes.

Czech climber Jane Svecova has made the first ascent of her Tokyo project in Holštejn, Czech Republic. She grades her long-term project 8C, making her one of the few women to have successfully completed two problems of this grade.

In March 2025, Fay Manners, Marco Malcangi, and Max Kilcoyne established one of Switzerland's most exciting new mixed routes on the central face of the Roc Noir above Arolla. "Nostalgie Alpine"—325 meters, nine pitches, M8 A0—is a statement for exploratory alpinism in a valley that seemed long forgotten.