15 December, 2008 Denis Urubko. Makalu rules. (Before the start Makalu winter expedition with Simone Moro)

11 December, 2008 International Mountain Day is an opportunity to create awareness about the importance of mountains to life, to highlight the opportunities and constraints in mountain development and to build partnerships that will bring positive change to the world's mountains and highlands. It was the UN General Assembly who designated 11 December, from 2003 onwards, as 'International Mountain Day'. This decision results from the success of the UN International Year of Mountains in 2002, which increased global awareness of the importance of mountains, stimulated the establishment of national committees in 78 countries and strengthened alliances through promoting the creation of the International Partnership for Sustainable Development in Mountain Regions, known as the 'Mountain Partnership (WSSD, Johannesburg, 2 September 2002).

11 December, 2008 8th International Mountain Film Festival in Bansko (Bulgaria) Results. Grand Prix “Pustelniks in the mountains”, Poland, 2008, Miroslaw Dembinski, 63’. Judge Special Award “Journey of a Red Fridge”, Serbia, 2007, Lucian & Natasa Muntean, 52’ and
“Enlightenment”, Austria, 2007, Armin Buchroithner, Christoph Hoerner and Stefan Ribitsch, 12’. Award for complete realization in extreme conditions “Portrait of a Serial Jumper”, Germany, 2007/ 2008, Matthias Thoennissen, 10’. Award of the Union of tourist business – Banskо,
“Sine Sole”, Switzerland, 2007, Gianni Padlina, 22’. Award of the Bansko Municipality
“Miracle on Everest”, Australia, 2008, Jennifer Peedom, 52’.

The official guests of the Festival were Krzysztow Wielicki (Poland), Borge Ousland (Norway), Gustav Thoeni (Italy).

1 December, 2008 Eugeny Beletsky - the Russian mountaineering legend (1908 - 1979)

30 November, 2008 Festival of Alpinism, Smichov, Prague,Nov.,21-23 Valery Babanov, Ueli Steck, and Adam Ondra attend the 5th annual of Festival of Alpinism in Smichov, Prague. Also the president of Czech Republic Vaclav Klaus came. 102 foreign guests were invited to the Fest. The Fest program include also the exhibition about the beginning of the organized mountaineering in Europe. The Fest jury was: Ang Tshering Sherpa - NEP, Viki Groselj - SLO, Jiri Novak - CZE 

Martin Minarik, Peter Hamor, Radek Jaros ans Zdenek Hruby, Rogar Scholi and Christoph Hainz, Mara Holecek... - it's not the full list of Fest members.

The president of The Asian Mountaineering Association, Ang Tsheringa, granted medals to Czechs D. Fojtik, L. Sulovsky and J. Nezerka for their ascent of Mount Everest. Wolfi Nairz presented his film from the first ascent to Mount Everest without oxygen by Reinhold Messner and Peter Habeler in 1978

5 November, 2008 Nuptse South Face, new route. Talented French duo Stephane Benoist и Patrice Glairon-Rappaz had been twice nominated on Piolet D'Or - in 2003 (Thalay Sagar, 1200-meter route) and in 2005 (Chomo Lonze, 1100 -meter route). Now they have climbed new line in alpine style, 2300 -meter route line, 4 days, very cold and hard. Stephane has frostbites, he was evacuated just after the descent. They'll return home soon. (www.desnivel.com)

Photo - www.babanov.com