The June issue of National Geographic introduced me to a number of incredible people, one of which is Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner. In August 2011 she became the first woman in history to climb to the top of all 14 of the world’s 8,000+ meter mountains without supplemental oxygen. The magazine contains a short interview with her, a portion of which I have included below:
From National Geographic, June 2013:
What’s the scariest moment you’ve faced?
On Dhaulagiri [in Nepal] in 2007 there was an avalanche one morning, and I was swept away inside my tent. When it stopped, I didn’t know if I was up or down; it was so dark. But I thought, OK, at least I can breathe. I always carry a small knife in my harness, so I was able to cut a hole in the tent. I was terrified that the snow would suffocate me. Slowly, slowly, I made it out. I searched for three spanish climbers who had camped near me. Two of them were dead. In that moment everything seemed to be over. For the first time I just wanted to leave the mountain.
How did you move past that terrible experience?
It helped to talk with my husband, Ralf, who is also a climber and understands me completely. I realised that I couldn’t make the tragedy unhappen and I couldn’t stop climbing – this is my life. A year later I returned to the same spot. There was the most beautiful sunrise I have ever seen. Joy and sorrow can be so close together.
Fractalis - An ongoing journal 