Keyword: Yosemite

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.

Chris Deuto (22) became the youngest person ever to summit the three highest peaks in Yosemite in a single day. Together with Erik Andersen, he completed the circuit in 22 hours and 16 minutes – including a 30-kilometer run.

Strong, stronger, Aidan Roberts. The young Brit is known for competing at the top of the hard bouldering scene. Now, at the start of the new year, he's established a new, steep, and challenging boulder problem, "The Bee's Knees," graded 8B+, in Yosemite Valley, USA. 

French climber Laura Pineau has become the first woman to complete "Wet Lycra Nightmare" (8b, 9 pitches) in Yosemite Valley. It is also her first solo ascent of a multi-pitch route.

Italian climber Pietro Vidi has successfully repeated the trad testpiece Magic Line (5.14c/8c+). The iconic line, first climbed by Ron Kauk in 1996, has seen few repeats since and is considered a tough challenge even among very experienced climbers.

Anyone planning a climbing trip to Yosemite Valley or the Rocky Mountains in 2026 should expect higher costs. The US government is introducing a $100 surcharge for non-Americans at the eleven most popular national parks starting in the new year.

With his repeat ascent of the difficult trad route "Meltdown" (8c+) in Yosemite Valley, the Italian climber Pietro Vidi becomes part of an elite circle of only a few ascenders.

Black Diamond, DMM, and Wild Country cams need no introduction. An unknown but very interesting alternative comes from the Basque Country: Totem Cams. Mountaineer Anna Truntschnig tested these camming devices in Indian Creek, Red Rocks, and Yosemite for the LACRUX community to see how well they perform in practice.