Ice climbing and ski touring in Norway: The Mountain Equipment Oreus and Xenith jackets put to the test

Frozen waterfalls, steep approaches, and cold belay stations: Norway is one of the most impressive destinations for ice climbers in Europe – but it also places high demands on equipment and clothing. Ice climber Anna embarked on a winter trip through Norway and tested two models from Mountain Equipment under realistic conditions. In the following review, Anna explains why these jackets complement each other surprisingly well in winter conditions.

News

Competition: Edelrid indoor set in the Bergfreunde edition

To celebrate their 20th anniversary, Bergfreunde has released special editions – we're giving away three indoor climbing sets: one Edelrid Twentie Exclusive (40m) and one Ohm II Exclusive. Just in time for the indoor climbing season.

Tenzing Norgay: A film about the first person to climb Everest

Since October 16th, Apple TV has been streaming "Tenzing": an Everest film that, for the first time, focuses not on Edmund Hillary, but on Tenzing Norgay. Who was this man whom the world long only knew as a companion – and how close does the film get to him?

More than ever before: Alpine Club awards nine huts with environmental quality seal

On October 17th, the Austrian Alpine Club awarded nine of its mountain huts with the environmental quality seal – more than ever before in a single year. The goal is for at least half of the Austrian Alpine Club's managed huts to carry the seal by 2033.

German Lead Championship this weekend: Who will take the titles?

This weekend, Germany's best lead climbers will compete for the national titles in Darmstadt. Last year's winners, Anna Apel and Yannick Nagel, are also registered. Find all the information about the starting field, schedule, and livestream of the 2026 German Lead Climbing Championships here.

Following a fatal avalanche accident in the Großarltal valley: Investigations against Austrian Alpine Club mountain guide discontinued.

In January 2026, four participants in a training group of the Austrian Alpine Club died in an avalanche in the Großarltal valley. The Salzburg public prosecutor's office subsequently investigated the group leader but has now dropped the case. The Alpine Club expresses its solidarity with its mountain and ski guide.

“Drifter’s Escape”: Pietro Vidi achieves the first replay

Italian trad climbing pro Pietro Vidi has secured the first repeat of "Drifter's Escape" (9a+, 5.15a). On October 13th, he completed Connor Herson's trad route on Stawamus Chief in Squamish. It is considered one of the hardest crack climbs in the world.

“DüDaDo in Nowhere” (8a+) – New Alpine multi-pitch route by Schild & Bacchetto

Jonas Schild and Anja Bacchetto have established a new alpine multi-pitch route on the Scheideggwetterhorn. "DüDaDo im Nirgendwo" (8a+) ascends the Epp Pillar in nine pitches. Schild achieved the first free ascent in September.

World Cup season finale in Chile: Garnbret and Utelli win in Lead, double gold for China in Speed

At the World Cup in Santiago, Chile, China's Zhao Yicheng and Lijuan Deng won gold in speed climbing. The final set of lead gold medals went to Janja Garnbret and the surprise men's winner, Switzerland's Jonas Utelli. All the weekend's results and the final overall ranking are summarized below.

Climbing & bouldering

Ice climbing and ski touring in Norway: The Mountain Equipment Oreus and Xenith jackets put to the test

Frozen waterfalls, steep approaches, and cold belay stations: Norway is one of the most impressive destinations for ice climbers in Europe – but it also places high demands on equipment and clothing. Ice climber Anna embarked on a winter trip through Norway and tested two models from Mountain Equipment under realistic conditions. In the following review, Anna explains why these jackets complement each other surprisingly well in winter conditions.

German Lead Championship this weekend: Who will take the titles?

This weekend, Germany's best lead climbers will compete for the national titles in Darmstadt. Last year's winners, Anna Apel and Yannick Nagel, are also registered. Find all the information about the starting field, schedule, and livestream of the 2026 German Lead Climbing Championships here.

“Drifter’s Escape”: Pietro Vidi achieves the first replay

Italian trad climbing pro Pietro Vidi has secured the first repeat of "Drifter's Escape" (9a+, 5.15a). On October 13th, he completed Connor Herson's trad route on Stawamus Chief in Squamish. It is considered one of the hardest crack climbs in the world.

New member of the 9A Club: Ritsu Kayotani reprises “No One Mourns the Wicked”

The 20-year-old Japanese climber has now achieved the fifth ascent of the line in Colorado. For Kayotani, it is his first boulder problem graded 9A – although this grade has been under discussion since Yannick Flohé's proposal to downgrade it to 8C+.

Why Adam Ondra downgrades “Exodia” from 9A+ to 9A

Adam Ondra has achieved the first repeat of Elias Iagnemma's "Exodia" (9A+) in Val Pellice, Italy. The exceptional Czech climber considers the grade 9A more appropriate – likely also because he only needed four days for the route, compared to 212 days for the first ascensionists.

Gold for Israel and France at the last Boulder World Cup of the season in Salt Lake City

At the Boulder World Cup in Salt Lake City, newcomer Yonatan Katz surprisingly won gold for Team Israel in his first final. In the women's competition, Oriane Bertone finally won her first World Cup of the season. All the results from the weekend and the final overall ranking are summarized below.

Gotthard Pass: Mei Kotake becomes the tenth woman to climb 8C.

The 29-year-old is the second Japanese woman to successfully complete a bouldering problem of this difficulty level. Who are the other women in the 8C club?

mountaineering

Tenzing Norgay: A film about the first person to climb Everest

Since October 16th, Apple TV has been streaming "Tenzing": an Everest film that, for the first time, focuses not on Edmund Hillary, but on Tenzing Norgay. Who was this man whom the world long only knew as a companion – and how close does the film get to him?

Following a fatal avalanche accident in the Großarltal valley: Investigations against Austrian Alpine Club mountain guide discontinued.

In January 2026, four participants in a training group of the Austrian Alpine Club died in an avalanche in the Großarltal valley. The Salzburg public prosecutor's office subsequently investigated the group leader but has now dropped the case. The Alpine Club expresses its solidarity with its mountain and ski guide.

Alpine Club on the climate law: Ineffective without consequences

While young people in Salzburg take to the streets for the climate strike, the Austrian Alpine Club stands behind its youth: The planned climate law needs binding consequences, otherwise it will remain ineffective.

When mountaineering loses its foundation

Crumbling rock, closed paths: Read here from mountain guide Christof Schellhammer how climate change is changing mountaineering.

Training

Warming up on the rock: This is how Alexander Megos does it.

On a trip away from Bleu and Ticino, it's often just you and your project. No warm-up boulders and easy routes in sight. Professional climber Alexander Megos explained to us how best to prepare your fingers and body for such situations. He always keeps two things in his car for this purpose – a yoga mat and a fingerboard. Here he explains how he uses both.

Half crimp, drag, sloper and more: Lattice coaches break down every grip type

Which hold type benefits you the most? How do you train slopers effectively? And how do you build the necessary strength for pockets and monos without damaging your ligaments? In a new video, lattice coaches Jen and Billy address these very questions and work their way through (almost) every hold type you'll find on rock and in the gym.
00:08:45

Progressive Overload: How to train not only harder, but smarter

Lattice Training's latest video covers a greatly underrated concept in climbing training: progressive overload. What sounds like gym jargon is actually a principle that will make you stronger.

Products

Competition: Edelrid indoor set in the Bergfreunde edition

To celebrate their 20th anniversary, Bergfreunde has released special editions – we're giving away three indoor climbing sets: one Edelrid Twentie Exclusive (40m) and one Ohm II Exclusive. Just in time for the indoor climbing season.

Petzl crampons tested: Leopard, Leopard Hybrid and Dart – the right crampon for every application

I've been a loyal Petzl crampon user for several years now. Whether on ski mountaineering tours, classic alpine tours, or ice climbing – the various models have always reliably accompanied me. So I was all the more excited about the new 2026 generation of crampons with the Leopard, Leopard Hybrid, and Dart models.

Scarpa BLACKBIRD: Carbon midsole for the smallest lasts

Scarpa spent six years developing their new climbing shoe. At its heart is the Italian company's first carbon-reinforced midsole – built for precision on the smallest footholds, without the shoe needing to fit brutally tightly.

La Sportiva Challenger 28 review: Sailcloth at full throttle

With the Challenger 28, La Sportiva is entering a category previously unknown to the brand: technical backpacks. I took it with me for five days of touring, including trips to the Arête des Cosmiques and alpine climbing.

Opinions

Adam Ondra on ethical dilemmas in climbing | Video interview

Style debate: Adam Ondra on preclipping, the influence of kneepads on difficulty levels and chipping & gluing.

New climbing holds in Hachioji: Dangerous & unfair?

The international climbing association IFSC presented climbing holds in a video today that could be used for the first time in an official competition. But the handles are not well received by many. Why?

E-touring skis: Battery-powered to the summit

A Swiss company is launching a technical solution that allows ski touring with electric support.

James Pearson dares to rate E12 for Bon Voyage – Why he exposes himself a second time

After much consideration, James Pearson awards the grade E2 for the second time. Which leads him to make Bon Voyage the hardest trad route.

Fixexen - Will the rock face become a consumption arena?

Guest author Markus Hutter expresses his exciting and stimulating thoughts on the subject of fixexing on rock in this article.

Professional mountaineering and climate protection: a (still) uncomfortable connection

Exceptional mountaineer Kilian Jornet publishes his "carbon footprint" annually. His transparency puts him pretty much alone in the professional mountaineering scene. Why is it still so difficult to talk about the carbon footprint in professional mountaineering?

Lacrux TV

Professional mountaineering and climate protection: a (still) uncomfortable connection

Exceptional mountaineer Kilian Jornet publishes his "carbon footprint" annually. His transparency puts him pretty much alone in the professional mountaineering scene. Why is it still so difficult to talk about the carbon footprint in professional mountaineering?
00:05:06

Kilian Jornet with incredible speed record: 82 four-thousand-meter peaks in 19 days

The Spanish mountain runner and alpinist Kilian Jornet has climbed all 19 82m peaks in the Alps in 4000 days, making alpine history.
00:33:42

Can professional climbers credibly campaign for the climate?

Professional climbers as climate ambassadors: A contradiction? This is exactly the dilemma that the latest edition of Lacrux TV is about.
00:04:13

Sexual harassment and abuse of power: Serious allegations against Nirmal Purja

Serious allegations against Nepal's mountaineering shooting star Nirmal Purja. Two women accuse him of sexual harassment.
00:39:02

Crack in the Magic Wood | Municipality and IG Magic Wood in dispute

The waves are rising in the Magic Wood. We met the mayor and the president of IG Magic Wood for a discussion.

Show all

Tips

New to the climbing gym? The most important climbing and bouldering tips for beginners.

Do you want to start climbing or bouldering in 2026? We've compiled the most important tips for beginners to ensure a successful start in the climbing gym.

Big wall climbing: 50 professional tips from Fritz Miller

This article contains a colorful mix of topics,...

Mountaineering and paragliding | Information, risks, equipment tips

More and more mountaineers, alpinists, and climbers are taking up paragliding because combining the two worlds opens up entirely new horizons. In this article, we summarize what you need to know about paragliding, the risks associated with the sport, how to develop the necessary know-how for safe flights, and which equipment is best suited for your future mountain adventures.
00:21:19

Concentrated girl power and training tips from Erin McNeice and Jana Svecova

They couldn't be more different: competitive climber Erin McNeice and outdoor boulderer Jana Svecova. Lattice Training accompanied the two during their training.
00:15:37

Climbing During Pregnancy | Expert Tips from Joy Black

In this article you will receive valuable tips on how to climb safely during pregnancy and what you should pay attention to.