First Woman 14X8000m w/o O2

[Chary Profile 14er Peak List (35) 14ers Skied (1)14ers in Winter (3)13er Peak List (5)]

This is so awesome! I had been anxiously monitoring this. Nobody has summited K2 for past two years! From the north side, no less. I had the fortune to meet Gerlinde and Ralf in Tibet last year. Congratulations!


K2 north pillar SUMMITS! Gerlinde bags the first female No-O2 14x8000ers ascent - Max, Vassiliy and Darek on top too

(Angela Benavides) Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner just summited K2 and becomes the first female to complete the first NO-O2 14x8000ers ascent. The Austrian climber topped-out at 18.18h, local time. Update 11.00am EST Maxut, Vassiliy and Darek followed on top soon afterwards, Ralf Dujmovits just reported from BC. The climbers are now on descent.

Gerlinde: Together we win

Gerlinde sounded overwhelmed with joy on the radio, Ralf noted. She said it was a gift to be on the summit all four climbers together, after such a difficult ascent but otherwise in great weather.

After two months on the lonely north face of K2, the international team comprising Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner (Austria), Ralf Dujmovits (Germany), Maxut Zhumayev (Kazakhstan), Vassiliy Pivtsov (Kazakhstan), Darek Zaluski (Poland) and Tommy Heinrich (Argentina) has persevered, worked perfectly coordinated and, finally, succeeded.

Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner, Darek Zaluski, Vassiliy Pivtsov and Maxut Zhumayev left their bivouac at 8,300m on K2 north pillar today at 1:30 am, local time, towards the summit in bitter cold conditions. At 11.30m, local time, they reached 8,400m. By 4pm they stood on the summit ridge.

Ralf and Tommy had returned to BC from C1 at the beginning of the summit push five days ago.

Link: http://www.explorersweb.com/world/news.php?id=20313

[Palmyra J Profile 14er Peak List (6) 13er Peak List (1)]

Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner just summited K2 and becomes the first female to complete the first NO-O2 14x8000ers ascent.


Wow! This makes me bow in respect..no silly clapping hands, this is a full bow, worthy of respect and admiration. More power to "Together We Win". Best wishes to all of them on that long descent.

I will look forward to reading about the event in the aftermath. Thank you for bringing to our attention.

Palmyra J

[colorado yooper Profile 14er Peak List (35) Trip Reports]

Fantastic- Safe trip to basecamp! Awesome achievement.

[gonzalj Profile Website 14er Peak List (26) 14ers in Winter (1)13er Peak List (11)Trip Reports]

Amazing and definitely safe travels on her descent!!!

[Theodore Profile 14er Peak List (16) 14ers in Winter (1)13er Peak List (1)Trip Reports]

All sorts of impressive!

A bivy at 8300m? Damn!

A 10 hour climb from there to the summit, before starting the descent? Damn!

Best of luck on a safe return to lower altitudes and safer arenas!

[sevenvii Profile 14er Peak List (25) 14ers in Winter (1)13er Peak List (38)Trip Reports]

I guess I was out of the loop, I did not know any women had done all 14 yet, let alone sans O2. I cannot fathom the strength and willpower that would take.

[kushrocks Profile Website 14er Peak List (57) 14ers in Winter (9)13er Peak List (7)Trip Reports]

Um . . .wow that woman is ridiculously bad ass.

[SLKRR Profile 14er Peak List (5)]

Incredible! Just climbing one 8000er is a feat. Climbing them all AND without O2, is simply phenomenal.

[TomPierce Profile 14er Peak List Not Entered Trip Reports]

Fully agree with all of the above. A bivy at 8300m? Bitterly cold conditions? North face route on K2? No O2? Holy crap, this lady's achievement is phenomenal. I had a chance to chat with a K2 summitter (Greg Child, fwiw) when climbing with him in Indian Creek a few years back and his description of his summit day was sobering. Not for me, but good for her. Wow.
-Tom