Karl Unterkircher
Encyclopedia
Karl Unterkircher was an Italian
mountaineer
. He is mostly known for opening new mountain routes. In 2004, he was the first alpinist to climb the two highest peaks on Earth (Mount Everest
and K2
) without oxygen in the same year. Karl made the second ascent of Mount Genyen
, China, (first ascent by Japanese in 1987) and the first ascent of the North face of Gasherbrum II
(together with Daniele Bernasconi and Michele Compagnoni). He also climbed the Jasemba, Nepal
, (together with Hans Kammerlander). He has received several awards including the Cavaliere Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana.
On July 15, 2008, he fell into a crevasse during an attempt to open a new route to the top of Himalayan
mountain Nanga Parbat
and is presumed dead. "Karl Unterkircher was the new star of mountain climbing", commented Reinhold Messner
when told of his death.
A Karl Unterkircher Award was conferred for the first time in July 2010 in Sëlva to the Swiss rock climber Ueli Steck
.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
mountaineer
Mountaineer
-Sports:*Mountaineering, the sport, hobby or profession of walking, hiking, trekking and climbing up mountains, also known as alpinism-University athletic teams and mascots:*Appalachian State Mountaineers, the athletic teams of Appalachian State University...
. He is mostly known for opening new mountain routes. In 2004, he was the first alpinist to climb the two highest peaks on Earth (Mount Everest
Mount Everest
Mount Everest is the world's highest mountain, with a peak at above sea level. It is located in the Mahalangur section of the Himalayas. The international boundary runs across the precise summit point...
and K2
K2
K2 is the second-highest mountain on Earth, after Mount Everest...
) without oxygen in the same year. Karl made the second ascent of Mount Genyen
Mount Genyen
Mount Genyen or Ge'nyen, is a mountain in the West Sichuan Mountain Range in China. With an elevation of , it is the third highest peak in the Chinese province of Sichuan. It was first climbed by Karl Unterkircher with a Japanese team in 1988.Genyen is regarded as the 13th most holy mountain...
, China, (first ascent by Japanese in 1987) and the first ascent of the North face of Gasherbrum II
Gasherbrum II
Gasherbrum II , also known as K4, is the 13th highest mountain on Earth, located on the border of Gilgit-Baltistan province, Pakistan and Xinjiang, China...
(together with Daniele Bernasconi and Michele Compagnoni). He also climbed the Jasemba, Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
, (together with Hans Kammerlander). He has received several awards including the Cavaliere Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana.
On July 15, 2008, he fell into a crevasse during an attempt to open a new route to the top of Himalayan
Himalayas
The Himalaya Range or Himalaya Mountains Sanskrit: Devanagari: हिमालय, literally "abode of snow"), usually called the Himalayas or Himalaya for short, is a mountain range in Asia, separating the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau...
mountain Nanga Parbat
Nanga Parbat
Nanga Parbat is the ninth highest mountain on Earth, the second highest mountain in Pakistan and among the eight-thousanders with a summit elevation of 8,126 meters...
and is presumed dead. "Karl Unterkircher was the new star of mountain climbing", commented Reinhold Messner
Reinhold Messner
Reinhold Messner is an Italian mountaineer and explorer from Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol "whose astonishing feats on Everest and on peaks throughout the world have earned him the status of the greatest climber in history." He is renowned for making the first solo ascent of Mount Everest without...
when told of his death.
A Karl Unterkircher Award was conferred for the first time in July 2010 in Sëlva to the Swiss rock climber Ueli Steck
Ueli Steck
Ueli Steck is a Swiss climber. He is also a skilled carpenter and lives in Ringgenberg in Interlaken.- Career :...
.