On April 24, Swiss climbers Ueli Steck and Simon Anthamatten made the first ascent of Teng Kang Poche's (6487m) northwest face, Khumbu Valley, Nepal. Checkmate (VI M7+ or M6 A0, 85 degrees, 2000m), completed wholly in alpine style, marks the first success of the pair's expedition to Nepalese Himalaya this spring; Steck and Anthamatten's main objective is to establish a new route on the notoriously steep and dangerous south face of Annapurna I.

Last year Steck's solo effort on Annapurna was cut short on May 21 when rockfall sent him on a 300-meter fall to the base of the south face. He miraculously survived.......

Full report and photos at the Alpinist Website.