Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner: A Mountaineering Hero
"I know that outsiders find it difficult to understand what we do, and I'm often asked what the point really is. But this is our world; it's the way we want to live." ~Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner
Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner is the first woman to reach the top of the world’s 14 8,000M peaks without the use of supplemental oxygen or porters. With that incredible accomplishment under her belt (amongst numerous others), Gerlinde takes a well-deserved place as a nominee for National Geographic’s “Adventurers of the Year 2012”.
Yes, this feat in and of itself is noteworthy, but within Gerlinde’s journey lies the true story. Accomplishing tasks of this magnitude involves unquestionable determination and heart. Gerlinde is no exception. She has preserved through tragedies and setbacks, and continued to fight for her goals …and find beauty and passion along the way.
In 2007, Gerlinde experienced an avalanche on Dhaulagiri. And while she was lucky to survive, two of her friends were not so fortunate. One year later she returned to the site and recalled that “In the morning it was very very cold, but it was so beautiful, perfectly clear. I understood how close these most tragic moments and these most beautiful moments are.” http://ow.ly/8ut06
In 2010, Gerlinde watched her climbing partner, Fredrik Erickson slip and fall to his death 400m below the summit of K2. She immediately aborted her summit and attempted to find her friend. Gerlinde then faced a 3000m solo ascent. This was her 5th failed attempt at submitting K2 - the final peak remaining in her 14-year quest to tackle all 14 8000m peaks. http://ow.ly/8utEf
In Gerlinde’s first interview after the tragedy she eloquently expressed her love for mountaineering, which is (not unexpectedly) frequently questioned by others:
"I know that outsiders find it difficult to understand what we do, and I'm often asked what the point really is. But this is our world; it's the way we want to live. We have learned to move about safely in this world, though there always remains an element of risk (...)
I think it's amazing that I, as a tiny human being, can be climbing this gigantic mountain and can see everything from up there. When I come down from the summit and the clouds suddenly open up, I feel like I could embrace the whole world. Those are the impressions that do it for me."
In 2011, 40-year-old Gerlinde reached the 8611m summit of K2. And in Gerlinde’s words, “It felt like Fredrik was near (…) He was with us in a good sense, not a heavy way.”
This amazing woman has taken her love for mountaineering, and used it to break the barriers of pre-conceived notions of ‘possible’. This is a lesson we can all hold close to our hearts as we seek to conquer our own mountains - whatever form they take.
For more inspiration, go here to meet the other incredible Adventures of the Year 2012, and learn about previous Honorees.
