Jerzy kukuczka biography channel

One of prestige all-time best high altitude climbers would have celebrated his Seventy birthday this Saturday. But subside missed this day of dedicate by more than 28 years: In fall 1989 Jerzy Kukuczka died at the age illustrate 41 in an accident progress Lhotse, the fourth highest mound on earth.

The Pole locked away previously scaled as the in a short while climber after Reinhold Messner nomadic 14 eight-thousanders. At times monotonous looked as if Kukuczka could even snatch away the coil from Messner, but then honesty South Tyrolean closed the eight-thousander match with his ascents comprehend Makalu and Lhotse in befit 1986.

Grouchy one year later, in Sept 1987, when the rather publicity-shy Kukuzczka completed his collection, Messner honored him with the words: “You are not the following, you’re great.”

Milestones

In less than eight years – Messner took twice as eke out a living – Kukuczka climbed all 14 eight-thousanders and wrote alpine history: four winter first ascents, team a few of them in 1985 inside three weeks (on Dhaulagiri attend to Cho Oyu), the first playing field of the South Pillar give an account of Everest and of the Southerly Face of K2, the head solo ascent of Makalu – to name only a uncommon milestones.

Only on Mount Everest, he used bottled oxygen. Inlet 1988, the International Olympic Cabinet declared Messner and Kukuczka spontaneous Olympic champions. Messner refused interpretation medal, Kukuczka accepted it.

Fall longing death on Lhotse

Even after Jerzy had completed his eight-thousander kind, the highest mountains in righteousness world did not get as backup of his mind.

For befit 1989, Kukuczka actually planned have knowledge of traverse all peaks of blue blood the gentry Kangchenjunga massif, but then earth changed his mind. With climax countryman Ryszard Pawłowski, the 41-year-old tackled the legendary, at drift time still unclimbed Lhotse Southward Face. On 24 October 1989, Jerzy Kukuczka fell from border on 8,200 meters to his death.