
Yemen’s Spider-Man climber dies in crater fall
A Yemeni climber nicknamed the 'Spider-Man' has died after a fall while scaling a volcanic crater.
All articles tagged with #climbing

A Yemeni climber nicknamed the 'Spider-Man' has died after a fall while scaling a volcanic crater.

Eric Beck, a member of the 1965 Snake Dike first ascent on Half Dome, pushes back on the recent wave of retrobolting by Eric Sloan, arguing that the route’s protection was intentionally minimal; Sloan reportedly added about 13 bolts across pitches 1–3, far more than the original two protection bolts and a mid‑way anchor, prompting Beck to warn that the changes may exceed the route’s historical intent and that any bolt removal should be done by someone skilled at rock repair.

Three climbers from a Latvian expedition on Denali (Mount McKinley) died after a fall near Denali Pass on the West Buttress; a fourth climber was rescued via long-line helicopter and later airlifted to a hospital. The other members assisted with the rescue before their own physical conditions declined and were evacuated. Denali, at about 20,310 feet, features the Autobahn—a dangerous stretch between high camp and Denali Pass where many injuries and deaths occur, often during descent. About 516 climbers were on the mountain as of Thursday, with roughly 1,000–1,200 attempting the ascent each year.

A new single-day summit record was set on Mount Everest’s Nepal side, with 274 successful ascents achieved thanks to favorable weather. The season remains crowded and under tighter controls with higher fees, as hundreds more climbers and Sherpa guides are expected to attempt the peak this month. Notable climbers like Kami Rita Sherpa (32nd ascent) and Pasang Dawa Sherpa (30th) added to the week’s records, while the Chinese side route remained closed this year.

Two Indian climbers, Sandeep Are and Arun Kumar Tiwari, died on Mount Everest while descending during a record spring season that drew hundreds via Nepal’s south route; at least five climbers have died this season, including three Nepalis, and a preliminary tally shows about 275 summits, prompting warnings from Kami Rita Sherpa about overcrowding and calls for stricter entry limits.

A record 274 climbers reached the summit of Mount Everest in a single day, marking a peak in crowding as guides and climbers navigated base-camp preparations and ascent during the late April–May 2026 window.

A new high was reached as 274 climbers summited Mount Everest from the south side in a single day, aided by favorable weather and a backlog of climbers after a glacier block delayed the route for weeks. Nepal issued nearly 500 permits this season, while China did not issue north-face permits, intensifying overcrowding concerns that have plagued the peak since the 2019 queues. The route was unblocked on May 13, allowing the surge, and officials credited good conditions and the large waiting pool for the record, though strong winds were forecast later in the week.

American mountaineer Shelley Johannesen died from injuries after an avalanche struck during the descent from Makalu in Nepal, where she and her team had summited on May 9. The avalanche, reportedly triggered by a failed fixed rope below camp three at about 7,200 metres, swept four climbers; Phurba Sonam Sherpa survived, while Johannesen succumbed to her injuries. Her partner David Ashley and another climber were airlifted to Kathmandu for treatment, and Johannesen’s body was recovered by six Sherpa climbers with a helicopter assist. Her death marks Makalu’s second fatality of the season, following Czech climber David Roubinek’s death from altitude sickness.

A 37-year-old man was found guilty of grossly negligent manslaughter for leaving his inexperienced girlfriend on Austria’s highest mountain, the Grossglockner, where she later froze to death. The Innsbruck Regional Court sentenced him to a suspended five-month prison term and a €9,600 fine, noting factors like his clean record and the loss of a relative; the verdict can be appealed.

An experienced Austrian climber, Thomas Plamberger, is facing negligent manslaughter charges after his girlfriend Kerstin Gurtner froze to death on Austria's Grossglockner. Prosecutors allege nine planning and equipment mistakes and a delayed call for help; Plamberger reportedly left her near the summit, returning hours later to find her dead. He denies wrongdoing; a conviction could carry up to three years in prison as the trial begins.

A climber identified by Austrian media as Thomas P goes on trial in Innsbruck for allegedly abandoning his exhausted girlfriend during a winter ascent of Austria's highest peak, the Grossglockner, resulting in her death from hypothermia; prosecutors argue he was the experienced guide who should have turned back or called for help, while his defense says they were prepared; a guilty verdict could reshape liability standards for climbers, with potential prison time up to three years.

Cairn is a thoughtful climbing-survival game from The Game Bakers that blends precise limb control, stamina/food/water management, and a lore-driven ascent of Kami. The PC version shines, but the Steam Deck port is verified yet prone to noticeable frame drops when the mountain is shown broadly, often dipping below 30 FPS. Lowering the resolution and using SteamOS’ FSR helps stabilize performance, though battery drain increases. Despite Deck hiccups, the core climb remains engaging, aided by accessible options (auto-save, fall rewind, etc.) and a save system that rewards careful planning.

Cairn, The Game Bakers’ new climbing sim, puts a female climber and a robo buddy on a mysterious mountain with inventory management and pitons guiding your ascent; the game is on Steam, with a demo praised for its demanding wall-as-boss pacing, signaling a stylistic shift from Haven and Furi.

Cairn is a tense climbing-survival game that follows elite climber Aava as she attempts the never-before-climbed Mount Kami. Players must manage ropework, pitons, water, food, and injuries while reading the mountain and confronting the pull of obsession. The experience blends peril with awe, offering assist options to ease the challenge, and culminates in a powerful ending that lingers emotionally.

American climber Alex Honnold free-soloed Taipei 101, a 508-meter tower, using small ledges and ornamental protrusions with no ropes, in a Netflix livestream that was delayed 24 hours due to rain; crowds cheered as he paused mid-climb, and he spoke about inspiring others to pursue their goals while acknowledging the risks and the ethical questions around broadcasting such a high-risk feat.