Juliet Hammer has repeated Nicholas Milburn's The Last Samurai 8A (+) in Chattanooga, Insta video. "2nd ascent… wow!!! Very psyched to find a slice of Colorado crimping in the South. Felt like the perfect boulder - tension crimps to a committing (for me) top out. As far as grade goes… I talked with Nicholas and he says he’s a sandbagger :p so we will go with the upgrade. It’ll work itself out with more ascents."

Alex Johnson has done in Hueco Tanks (TX). (c) Allison Vest "It took several days to get into the groove in Hueco, and by the time Vest and I both felt it, it was time to leave. Put a couple of sessions into this one over the years and am super proud to have put it to rest. Felt insanely smooth on the send, really stoked it all came together for a hail mary on our last day of the trip."

Santiago de Alba reports on Insta that he has done First Ley 9a+ in Margalef after projecting it during some 30 sessions over three months. The Mexican competed actively until 2014 and his best result was #17 in a Lead WC and #25 in Boulder. After five years of climbing break, he started climbing again in 2019. (c) Eduardo Ruano Lin

How did you end up projecting First Ley in Margalef?
I began bouldering seriously almost two years ago and after doing some of my projects I decided to go to Margalef to try First Round First Minute 9b. I wasn't very sure because I was travelling alone but I knew some people here. I did know that FR is really hard but I love that line, the moves, the holds, the place and the history with Chris Sharma. I wasn't sure about FR but I was almost sure I could have a chance with First Ley, the less difficult variation. I did all the important moves on my first try and decide to go until the end.

The last route I did was maybe an 8c+ in México two years back, but I've been bouldering and this route is very bouldery. I think other climbers also did it without doing 9a before. I knew I had a chance, but mainly I was very in love with that line. I didn’t even think about doing other routes. I wanted that one. The (grade) 9a+ was an extra value, that was sometimes heavy for the mind because there was no one in Mexico climbing that grade. Now there will be a lot.

During the three months, have you trained on plastic or only on the route?
No plastic, I have been training on the route to get some endurance, and with some hangboard. I haven't been in a gym for months but I love training. I train a lot and before in Mexico, I was just training sometimes

What is next?
First Round First Minute, the route intimidates me and is a bit out of reach, but I will give it hell. And maybe a check the stuff in La Capella. I want to improve my realtionship with climbing and keep learning.

Allison Vest has set a new standard by, in a day, flashing Diaphnous Sea 8A (+) and Loaded With Power (7C+) as well as doing . (c) Alex Johnson

"A super good day out in Hueco. My first triple-double day. Was cool to try hard on some flash attempts.
I watched a lot of videos of diaphanous and knew it was my style. I had also been told it would be a good one to try to flash. I warmed up for a bit and was nervous to pull on and try but, AJ told me to just do it and that was the push I needed!"

Interestingly, during the last four months the 26-year-old has done ten boulders 8A+ to 8B+, which can be compared with a total of five previously. The reasons for this great progress are that she has stopped focusing on comps, and that leg injuries in early 2021 made her train lots of lock-offs and hangboarding. On Insta she has just published her 8B+ send.

How did you prepare for the flashes?
I watched a lot of videos of Diaphanous and knew it was my style. I had also been told it would be a good one to try to flash. I warmed up for a bit and was nervous to pull on and try but, AJ told me to just do it and that was the push I needed! We’ve been here for two weeks but I only now feel like I’m really getting used to the climbing.

How long do you plan to stay in Hueco and what is next?
I think I’m done climbing this trip. Only a couple of days left and I’ve got some body tweaks that are making me nervous. Might play around a little on the last day but mostly support crew for AJ!

Alex Puccio reports on Insta that she has done Medow Lark Lemon 8B and Hungry Hungry Hippos 8A+ in Red Rocks. (c) Robin O'Leary

The 32-year-old has been the best female outdoor boulderer during the last 15 years, in spite of having had several bad injuries and also competing actively. She won her first World Cup in 2009 and her most recent in 2018 just before she stopped competing. In 2014, she got the silver in the World Championship.

How are you recovering from your last shoulder injury?
Injury is doing a lot better. It’s not 100% yet, my muscles around the SC Joint get quite sore and fatigue quicker which I have to watch out for as it then makes my shoulder more vulnerable. Outside climbing is definitely easier on it since a lot of the moves are more static and also you can rely on more technique. :)

What are your 2022 plans?
I’m psyched to start training this next month and in April- May we are planning a trip to Europe. We want to go to Magic Wood, but probably some other places as well around Europe. :)

Vroni Gaßner has done The Pianist (8A) in Val Calanca and The Arete with the Pocket (8A) in Chironico. "I was pretty surprised by taking down, The arete with the pocket, an old project of mine, and, The Pianist in only one session each during this trip. Happy about seeing progress!"

How can you explain this peak performance and how much do you train?
I didn't do any specific training. Just continuous bouldering on a 45-degree wall and outdoors. :) Normally, I train two days a week in the gym. At weekends, I usually try to climb outside for two days, depending on the weather and time I have.

Stefano Ghisolfi has done L'Arenauta in , which was bolted 20 years ago. His mini-documentary gives you all the details. "The first part, the less overhanging, is 7a to the first chain. From there starts the roof part, around 20m almost horizontal roof. The first section of the roof is not super hard, around 8b+, and then there is a bad kneebar and from there starts the real challenge. A hard section on pockets with very bad feet, some ten intense moves. The line does not cross any other route, it is one of the purest and most logical ones, straight in the middle of the roof. The place is amazing, close to the beach."

Marcel Remy was born in 1923 and has been climbing actively during the last 90 years. He celebrated his 99th birthday by climbing in his local gym in Villeneuve in Switzerland, leading a 16 m tall 4c after some regular warming up. (c) Hannes Teil for Mammut

The first time, out of seven times, Marcel has made it to the 8a headlines was in 2015 when he did a 5c in Leonidio. Two years later at 96, he did a 12 pitches 5b+ and then took a paragliding tandem down. Later this year, a short documentary about Marcel's climbing life will be released.

Alex Johnson and Allison Vest have done Power of Landjager (8A) in Hueco Tanks (TX). (Alex)"Hueco is harder than I remember. It felt really good to top something out. I remember trying this boulder a decade ago and it felt hard. It was nice to return as a stronger and better climber and put it away. Few more days left, hope the tops yield!" (c) Allison Vest

Dylan Chuat, who previously has repeated seven 9a's, has done the FA of Un bel été (9a) in St-Triphon which was equipped by Samuel Ometz. "My first first ascent! The route is really mythical and hard! It's mega complete, from top to bottom with not too much relaxation except in the middle and a big big crux at the top which is a very technical jump to an undercling!"

In the last two years, he has won the Swiss Lead Championship as well as being runner-up in Boulder. On Insta he comments on his FA grade proposal. "I think the grade deserves a + but I think all the attempts I gave was because of my mentality so I prefer to grade it 9a."