Blamann (Blamannen, 861m), north face. This face received considerable attention in 2008, due in part to the newly published guidebook Kvaloya: Selected Climbs, and also to the 2007 free ascent of the superb 10-pitch Arc- tandria at F8b by Austrians Hansjörg Auer and Markus Haid, an event that received widespread media publicity.

Blamann, Ultima Thule, first winter ascent. Summiting on March 6, the Finnish climbers Sampsa Jyrkynen, Saku Korosuo, and Adrian Pollard made the first winter ascent of Ultima Thule, climbing all seven pitches at A1 over a four-day period. On April 8 three Russian climbers, Sergej Belja- jev, Aleksej Orudzjev, and Andrej Var- varkin, also climbed Ultima Thule. Although not a calendar winter ascent, it still involved harsh winter conditions.

Marten Blixt, Norway