Edu Marin, one of the very best multi-pitch climbers in the world, has made the FA of the six pitches Arco Iris in Montserrat. The last four pitches are all 8a+ to 8c+. His manager Ivan Torres from Woguclimbing has helped out with further info.

The route had only old gear from the first aid ascension. Edu added between three and five bolts in each pitch, trying to respect the original route. He didn't use the old gear in his ascent just the new bolts. He started to try the route in 2019 but he didn't free the hard pitches until the beginning of this month. October 9th, after three final weeks, projecting it he made it belayed by his father.

"It's been a mental struggle. Knowing that you have to face an 8c+ pitch with only four bolts in 25 meters and potential falls up to 15 meters is not easy.

Last year the Spaniard did put up the first 9a+ multi-pitch in the world and although he has never been in Yosemite, he must be considered as one of the Top-3 MP/Big wall climbers in the world. In total, the 31-year-old has done more than 20 9a's and including having won the Lead World Cup in Chamonix in 2006, he must be considered as one of the best multi-discipline climbers in the world. "

Eva Hammelmüller and Jessica Pilz have been on a rock climbing trip in Arco with the Austria national team. Both did Terra Piatta 8c in Mont Colt where Eva also did Zero Tolleranza in Mont Colt. Jessy's second 8c was 5 Uve in Narango.

This were Eva'scomments yesterday, "The training camp with the national team is so much fun, and it is going extraordinarily well! We are already leaving tomorrow, so I am looking forward to climbing as much as possible on our last two climbing days!"

During the last two days, both Eva (in the picture) and Jessy did three routes 8b and 8b+ second go. Eva is #3 in the 8a ranking game and Jessy has qualified to Tokyo.

Karoline Sinnhuber, who previoulsy has done six 8B's, has done Sofa Surfer 8A (+) in Magic Wood. In total, the former competition climber has done 101 8A's and harder. (c) Fabian Leu

"Took me around 1,5h to send, was my first session on it. I‘m working on, One summer in paradise and Trullator (both 8B) at the moment. Tried Trullator for the first time this trip and it‘s a really cool and tricky compression/heel/toe roof ☺️ but I’m still waiting for a little cooler conditions for one summer 🙁."

Anatole Bosio has done the third ascent of Aubade direct 9a+ in Sainte-Victoire. Last summer he did the second ascent of Gerome Pouvreau's Aubade from 2005 suggesting an upgrade to 9a and since then he has tried the 9a+ off and on.

“Aubade direct” is a 9 meters 7c+ into a kneebar rest followed by 6 insane moves very powerful, with long moves on tiny crimps. The hardest move is quite awkward, you need to dyno from a slopy undercling to a little crack." Fanatic Climbing has the full interview. Here is the video. © Martin Baudry

Advertorial: Alex Megos is without a doubt one of those climbers who never tire of looking for new challenges and who take every opportunity to put their skills to the test. Recently he visited South Tyrol – popular for hiking and alpine climbing, amazing ski resorts and delicious food – but not yet that well-known among the climbing elite for its potential for hard climbs. However, this could change soon: "There seems to be A LOT of rock here, which I haven't heard of before. Looking forward to being back here as soon as possible!”

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Last week, Austria said that they will not send any athletes to the European Championship in Moscow 20 - 29 November. In practice meaning that no further Austrians can qualify for Tokyo 2021. Now, the news is out that Germany, Switzerland, United Kingdom and Sweden will only send athletes that will compete in Combined.

BJ Tilden has done his fifth 9a FA, The Hunted in Wold Point. Interesting is that the 39-year-old had his best year last year and with also three 8c+ in 2020, this year is even better.

"A link up, but for sure one of the best lines in the cave. Does the start of Stalk and Ambush(V11) into the meat of Okami(14b) and finishes on Spitting Venom(14c). Combines the best part of those three routes right in The middle of the cave. Psyched!!"

Carlo Traversi, who previously this year did his first 8C+ boulder, has done the FA of Empath 9a+ in Tahoe. It took him including bolting and cleaning some 15 days. (c) Mary Mecklenburg

" I bolted it last summer and started working on it. Made some goods links last fall. This year I prioritized this route above everything. Climbing on Creature (the 8C+) was training for it. Once the temperatures dropped last week I started giving redpoint tries. Fell off the top a few times but managed to finish it up this past Sunday. It is slightly overhung, about 20 meters tall. Granite tufas and slopers. No real rests. Very bouldery." More insight on his Insta.

Barbara Zangerl, the best female multi-discipline rock climber for many years, reports on Insta that she has done Greenspit 8b (+) trad in Valle dell'Orco. It was put up in 2005 by Didier Berthod as an 8b+ meaning it was the hardest crack in Europe and possibly in the world but later also 8b have been suggested. Originally it had green bolts but they were chopped off. In 2006, it appeared in the film First Ascent and the 12-meter roof crack became an icon route. (c) Jacopo Larcher

" Greenspit was always a line I wanted to try one day. It took me 4 days (13 turns) from Handjam-fingerlock-crimps, feet first—you find it all on this one! It was fun to work on that climb and find out the beta to fight it to the top. Placing all the gear on lead and removing it after every single try adds some extra work/struggle to it. Really enjoyed to spend time with Jacopo at this very cool place and sharing the motivation."

It should be mentioned that trad grades have over the years developed stiffer than sport grades and including that you have to place all gear on lead, as the ethics also said for sport routes originally, an 8b trad most be considered as an 8b+ sport route today. "Feels definitely harder than any 8b I did... it definitely makes a difference placing the gear on lead..."Furthermore, beside Barbara being the best all-round female rock climber in the world, she should be Top-10 among the male. She has done 9a and onsighted 8b. In bouldering she did an 8B in 2008 but due to a back injury she then had to stop. In trad she has done up to 8c and her overall tick list in big walls are possibly only beaten by Tommy Caldwell.