This was my first 5.10 crack lead, so I was pretty nervous. I must have placed at least 8-9 pieces, including 4 #1's!

For the routes-db. bellaitalia redpointing this splitter that should be her hardest crack sent so far. pic taken by chrtur.

This is soulslight on the short walking section of Alba del Nirvana. It was his 2nd trad lead... congrats! :)

This boulder problem follows a vertical crack which becomes a horizontal crack and finally tops out on fairly high up on the boulder. The real crux is the descent, which requires sliding down moss and using two large trees as a chimney.

We're next in line, finally, to climb Luna Nascente.

Heiko and I getting ready to cross the waterfall on the ascent. Picture by Paolo75

The 3 shameless gearhounds compare racks in VDM and call it a draw with a hug. After all, friends share! From left to right - bellaitalia, heiko and booger.

The last of a German party ahead of us tops out on the 9th and last pitch of Luna Nascente. After 8 solid pitches of lie-backing, this 50-metre unprotectable and featureless slab comes as quite a shock.

Just to have a pic attached to the route. Slab warm-up for the rest of our trip to Val di Mello. Pic taken by Paolo75.

Heiko following Pitch 3 on Luna Nascente.

Heiko on the beautiful 7th pitch, well worth the wait for both the perfect climbing and the view.

Cold, miserable, hungry climbers waiting for daylight...

View of the alps from the 3rd belay station of Cochise. What a perfect sky!!

Heiko's brain projects images of death and dismemberment while he climbs this Sass Remenno route post-vino ...

This is Heiko following up the 3rd pitch of Cochise. That exposure is even scarier when you are double-smeared and clinging to crystals with your fingernails!!

A second photo of Heiko following up the 3rd pitch of Cochise. Again, incredible exposure on a science friction slab.

Praying and swearing my way up the fourth pitch of Cochise. Photo courtesy of Paolo75.

This is Dimore degli Dei and I have to write at least 40 characters.

Paolo75 pulls through the third draw on a route at Sass Remenno.

Huffing up the second pitch of Alba del Nirvana, a beautiful route in Val di Mello with two parallel gear-eating cracks on the last pitch. Photo by Pietrorago.

That's the chimney pitch of the route... very nice, unless you're big. Pic taken by pietrorago.

Paolo75 jammed in the chimney because his helmet is too big ;-) Pic taken by pietrorago.

Paolo gave everything... his helmet, his panties, his shoes... seems he's still stuck tho... Pic taken by pietrorago.

Adding some nice Val Di Mello scenery pictures for the Database, so people can get a feel for the magic of that area.

Adding some nice Val Di Mello scenery pictures for the Database, so people can get a feel for the magic of that area. This is the Fourth.