Between February 27th and March 1st, the Italian alpinists Franz Cazzanelli, Emrik Favre and Francesco Ratti managed the first repetition and the first winter ascent of Padre Pio Prega Per Noi + Echelle Ver le Ciel (1.870m, 7b) in the south face of the Matterhorn.
The expedition team from Dolma Outdoor Expedition did not succeed in wresting a winter ascent from the K2. The Nepalese climbers led by Nima Gyalzen Sherpa had tried to lead 28-year-old Grace Tseng to the summit of K2. The Taiwanese would have been the first woman to stand on top of the second highest peak in the world in winter.
The French alpinist has managed a spectacular ascent on the north face of the Grandes Jorasses. He is the first to manage the winter ascent of the demanding mixed route Rolling Stones through the north face of the Grandes Jorasses - single-handedly.
The K2 was climbed for the first time in winter. But while the summiteers were cheering, one of their colleagues died further down the mountain, who had turned back out of caution that morning.