Kristin Harila Norway Holder of the world record for the fastest ascent of the 14 peaks of 8,000 m — completed in 92 days together with Tenjen Sherpa (27 July 2023).
PROFILES
Climbers
Profiles of climbers and mountaineering figures from many countries — complete with official links to their sites, blogs, and social media.
66 climbers worldwide
Kristin Harila Norway 
Krzysztof Wielicki Poland 5th person to climb all fourteen eight-thousanders and the first to make winter ascents of Everest, Kangchenjunga, and Lhotse.
Lhakpa Sherpa Nepal The woman holding the record for the most Everest ascents — 11 times (2000–2022); she also successfully climbed K2 in July 2023. Her life story is featured in the Netflix documentary 'Mountain Queen' (2024).
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Lydia Bradey New Zealand First woman to summit Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen (1988).
Lynn Hill United States First person to free climb The Nose on El Capitan, Yosemite (1993) — a feat considered impossible for decades.
The first double-amputee climber in the world to reach the summit of Everest (15 May 2006), climbing on carbon-fiber prosthetic legs after losing both legs to frostbite on Aoraki/Mount Cook.
One of two Indonesian women who completed the Seven Summits through the Indonesian Women's Seven Summits Expedition (Mahitala Unpar).
Muhammad Ali Sadpara Pakistan A legendary Pakistani climber who climbed 8 of the 14 eight-thousanders; disappeared during the first attempt to climb K2 in winter without oxygen (February 2021) — declared a National Hero of Pakistan.
Naomi Uemura Japan The first Japanese solo explorer to reach the North Pole alone (1978) and the first person to climb Denali solo in winter (1984); vanished during the descent.
Nives Meroi Italy Completed all fourteen eight-thousanders in alpine style and without supplemental oxygen (2017).
A pioneering Indonesian climber and adventure journalist (Mapala UI & the Kompas daily); died on Aconcagua in 1992 during a Seven Summits expedition series.
Oh Eun-sun South Korea The first woman to claim completion of all 14 of the 8,000 m peaks (2010) and the first Asian woman to complete the Seven Summits.
Pasang Lhamu Sherpa Nepal The first Nepali woman to reach the summit of Everest (22 April 1993), who died heroically during the descent in a storm; posthumously awarded the Nepal Star.
Peter Habeler Austria Together with Reinhold Messner, the first person to climb Everest without bottled oxygen (8 May 1978) — proving that climbing without supplemental oxygen at an altitude of 8,849 m was possible.
Reinhold Messner Italy First person to climb all fourteen 8,000 m peaks; soloed Everest without supplemental oxygen.
Led the first South American expedition to the summit of Everest (1992) via the Kangshung Face; the only person to have climbed Everest from all three of its sides.
First Pakistani woman to climb Mount Everest (2013), the Seven Summits (2014), and K2 (2022).
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Santosh Yadav India First woman in the world to climb Everest twice, and the first to do so via the Kangshung Face.
Saray Khumalo South Africa The first Black African woman to reach the summit of Everest (2019) and to complete the Seven Summits; active in fundraising for children's literacy.
The first Black African to climb Everest (2003), completing it twice via two different routes.
Simone Moro Italy Holder of the most first winter ascents of eight-thousanders in the world — four first winter ascents: Shishapangma, Makalu, Gasherbrum II, and Nanga Parbat.
Soe Hok Gie Indonesia Indonesian student activist and climber, a member of Mapala UI; died on Mount Semeru (1969) — his story was immortalized in the film 'Gie' (2005).
Leader of the Indonesia Seven Summits Mahitala Unpar expedition — the first Indonesian student team to complete the Messner version of the Seven Summits (2009–2011).
The oldest woman to climb Everest — first at age 63 (2002) and breaking her own record at age 73 (2012).