Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner: Conquering K2 | Nat Geo Live

[@markmnorcal]

The key to her success is knowing when to turn around and try again when conditions are safe.

[@OberpfalzSepp]

No, she did have very much luck, too.

[@70mjc]

LoveAddict69 Impossible to attribute the magnitude of her awe inspiring ability to a single trait....

[@70mjc]

Rick Dangerous luck is only when preparation meets opportunity

[@wayno23]

@@70mjc exactly 👍 being prepared when the opportunity arises.

[@PetraKann]

That’s the key to staying alive.

[@adnanshah8917]

Hats of to you Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner. This is not easy. I can feel the excitement in your emotions and feelings after conquering the worlds most dangerous mountain. its about 6-8 hour drive from where my village is in Pakistan.

[@1HUMANIT1NATION]

any climber who reaches k2 summit is the true mountaineer of all time.only few dedicated & emotionally strong people can achieve this

[@MrNikhildsouza]

***** How many mountains have you climbed?

[@fragelicious]

+1HUMANIT1NATION much more difficult and scary than Everest.

[@petrbarton4315]

+1HUMANIT1NATION It's 100% truth,what you said.:-)

[@Tew730]

+1HUMANIT1NATION its is a very dangerous mountain K2 so steep ,the top section looks so dangerous ,you notice noone steps foot on the very peak it would probably cause the whole top to shift and thats the end of your climb

[@gamma_dablam]

up lift really? How?

[@nrncfacility9377]

They said its not really “conquering the mountain” but just “spending some time at the summit with the mountain’s permission.” 😇🐻

[@tirthankarsarkar5254]

You can't spend hours in K2 everest kangchenzhongha like cliff summits you only get a shorter time from the top

[@cindys9491]

That said, most of us would not ever earn its permission. Good for Kaltenbrunner.

[@gui11loup10]

The Gaston Rébuffat’s philosophy of climbimg mountains.

[@siryozen9648]

Was thinking the same thing

[@PetraKann]

Depends in who you talk to. Sherpas and other religious groups believe that the peaks of these mountains are associated with specific deities or God. To summit is to stand on the head of the deity. This is clearly disrespectful for believers. Some Sherpas climb these mountains but dont go as far as stepping on the summit. They show respect several metres from the actual summit.

[@propjoe1060]

What a strong lady. Great stuff, and amazing achievement!

[@m.fatani7288]

Much respect.. to keep coming back like that after so many failed attempts is amazing.. Thank you

[@ajoybaksi3654]

A remarkable lady. Never boastful, full of energy, and radiating goodwill and health.

[@jwill5876]

Complete respect. I am in awe.

[@umeshkugaonkar]

when I saw her k2 film and listen her interview at MULUNDS MUMBAI suberb at Giri meet held on 7/8 Jully 2017, I salut her each summit and can say only she is GREATEST of all at this stage.....Congratulation....and keep it up! umesh kugaonkar..Thane, Maharashtra, India.

[@JEL1001]

Five Billion People on Earth and 305 have made it to the peak. Regardless of gender this is a feat. 72 people died trying. She herself has a drive to climb, it is others who point out her gender, she has not made reference to it. To her , it appears, she is an experienced,integral part of a team. Job well done !

[@bosssportscorner6793]

Now 7.8 billions

[@michaelgallagher3640]

& 145 people summited in 2022, not so tough.

[@MrJeanleno]

Beautiful!!! A Giant congratulation from Brazil!

[@addmad99]

wow... just amazing n inspiring to watch. Gerlinde, so sweet n humble n down to Earth n strong willed... an inspiration.

[@cbpaz25]

Wow! You are amazing. You fought with K2, until you made it to the top. A great example of going after your dreams, no matter what.

[@Dailymailnewz]

I just been to the top of K2 THROUGH your pictures thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@anneglass8084]

This woman is my hero. What an inspirational story.

[@THXbox]

It's the South Face, or Central Rib, that Messner calls "suicide". Only climbed once in 1986 by Polish climbers Jerzy Kukuczka & Tadeusz Piotrowski, resulting in the death of Piotrowski. Messner's own attempt at the Magic Line in 1978 was thwarted by bad weather and impossible snow conditions, forcing him to the Abruzzi, and a trip to the summit. Again though, in 1986, it too was climbed by a three man Polish/Slovak team, resulting in one death. Despite many, many other attempts...Jordi Corominas was the last to successfully summit via this route in 2004.

[@franksmith541]

Well, if you want to talk tough routes, the ones on Everest, like the West Rige, East Face and North Face Direct are as tough or tougher than anything on K2. But a peak's difficulty is measured by the common route, and the one on K2 (Abruzzi) is harder than the one on Everest. This season, however, 145 climbers summited K2, with long queues to the top, like on Everest. That greatly diminished K2's reputation as a killer. K2 is becoming commercialized like Everest, because it is much cheaper to climb. After this season, the summit-to-death ratio of K2 is now much below Annapurna - just when it was starting to catch up. The bottom line is, if the weather is fine, an average climber can climb K2 with good guides and Sherpa support. It is Annapurna which is the deadliest of all the 8000m peaks. Only top mountaineers attempt it with minimal support, and you never see queues on it like you are now seeing on K2.

[@artysm7]

Only 55k views this is incredible it deserves 55million views...the steepness of that terrain is insane!

[@Bereit18]

Unbelievable pictures and FULL respect to anybody who has climbed K2, such a dangerous mountain.

[@rossmarino2776]

She has all my respect and admiration. K2 and Annapurna are the toughest and most dangerous mountains to climb in the world. Much more than Everest. Those who reach the summit of K2 are in a league of their own. I take my hat off.

[@franksmith541]

This season 145 climbers reached the top of K2, many of them with Sherpa support and guides. A climber took a picture of a long lineup near the summit, similar to what you see on Everest. K2 is becoming commercialized like Everest, because it is much cheaper to climb. After this season, the summit-to-death ratio of K2 is now much below Annapurna - just when K2 was starting to catch up. The bottom line is, if the weather is fine, an average climber can climb K2 with good guides and Sherpa support. It is Annapurna which is the deadliest of all the 8000m peaks. Only top mountaineers attempt it with minimal support, and you never see queues on it like you are now seeing on K2.

[@CptShelby]

@@franksmith541 I guess with that amount of climbers the teams don't have to establish the routes themselves which makes it easier as well.

[@timm14171]

@@franksmith541Annapurna will someday be commercialized like everest and k2

[@Samurai78420]

What an incredible human being. Unreal...

[@safevoyage]

Gerlinde is a great climber, I saw the doc “Two On K2” and was amazed at her strength. I’m now reading her book “Mountains in my Heart”, very good.

[@markdanskin8202]

Great to see such good communication between partners. That showed a real respect for personal boundaries, especially in such a dangerous place.

[@hts-2020]

It takes around 8 days (depending on the speed) to reach the Basecamp from the last village (Askole) of Shigar Valley. For people like me even that Basecamp hike is so challenging. Bravo to the summitters!

[@joweda6342]

Bravo Gerlinde, unfassbare Leistungen!

[@TheWorstThingEver]

Gerlinde is my favorite mountaineer.

[@tway24ironlife34]

To me K2 is more intimidating then Everest. Much respect to all who attempt this savage beast

[@TheRiijk]

TWay24 IronLife K2 is far more intimidating. I summited Everest almost 10 years ago but would never even think to attempt the beast that is k2.

[@nickreynolds8391]

Yeah I think it's pretty universally agreed upon that K2 is significantly more intimidating than Everest.

[@RG-5834]

K2 is far more intimidating, significantly steeper, definitely more challenging, clearly more technical and dangerous than Everest. Also, you have less chance of being rescued as K2 is isolated and the weather conditions are more unpredictable and treacherous than just about any other mountain. K2 is the most prized mountain to summit, ask any elite mountaineer. Gerlinde is a mountaineering icon and is definitely one of the greatest ever, male or female climbers in history!

[@hearmenow909]

@@RG-5834 Most prized would surely be Annapurna.

[@beesboy10]

Check the shadow of K2 at 13:51 on their left...

[@karnadendla2498]

That is out of this world. magnificent!

[@runhardhooah]

Google: "Valentín Giró - K2 Magic Line Expedition (English version)," and go to 23:20. That shadow you noticed is known as the "Ghost Effect."

[@m.raheej1699]

@@runhardhooah you got a sharp memory 👍

[@abmo32]

monster

[@AnaLopez-ip8iw]

a very strong & smart lady 100% respect for her, she is much tougher then 99% of guys I know congradulations Gerliende on your K2 climb. from nyc ny

[@matthewmartin3190]

Ana Lopez typical feminist. more men have summited than women. a woman does something men have done for years and she suddenly is superior. grow up. she is a great climber but not because she is female

[@knuffelbeer193]

She said tougher than 99% of men SHE KNOWS. Not 99% of men who climbed K2.

[@abdullahibrahim9870]

Repect for all mountaineers and also special salute to those who lost their lives in reaching to summit Rest in Peace , Long live Pakistan and K2 ....

[@optimistgirl4608]

Long live gilgitbaltistan where K2 is located

[@romeshbhattacharji7506]

Remarkable climb by a tough and determined but modest lady.

[@mazharbang]

Huge respect for climbers trying to attempt K2 in my country.

[@timchilman]

Absolutely incredible.

[@johnmcnulty4425]

Can you imagine putting so much effort into making your community a better place? That's my kind of hero!

[@fragelicious]

This woman has bigger balls than most men do. Ralf has a fearless wife.

[@projecttitans]

Ralf is Blessed

[@matthewmartin3190]

more men have summited than women

[@RandomPerson-zx9vv]

@@matthewmartin3190 Only a handful of women have made the summit and survived. That makes the women that can do this all the more amazing.

[@omegaxx19]

the number of idiotic comments on this video amazes me. anyone who has so far as put on a pair of crampons and stumbled up a snow slope can appreciate what an incredible feat this is, even with all the logistical and technological support. women's hemoglobin concentration is naturally lower than men's, which translates to lower oxygen carrying capacity per unit of blood. this makes this feat even more impressive. a huge congratulations to ms. kaltenbrunner.

[@matthewmartin3190]

omegaxx19 didn't you hear? women are physiology superior to men.

[@naly202]

People: "Most dangerous mountain in the world"... Mountain K2 : "I just sit here minding my own business and these tiny ants keep trying to "conquer" me. non my fault, guys"

[@awaispasha335]

K2 in Pakistan 🇵🇰 ❤️Proud

[@azkajawaid]

Beautiful inspiration. May Lord give me courage and opportunity to atleast view this mountain from far.

[@rudybigboote3883]

Amazing lady!!! Mountaineers are a special breed of human and this lady is a perfect example of how they drive themselves to extremes that most humans are not capable of.

[@arongroen6655]

Correction: You don't conquer K2. K2 decides whether it allows you on it during very brief period of time without killing you.

[@ObachtMathe]

Größten Respekt an die Leistung dieser Frau 💪🏻

[@breathzee]

Congrats on Conquering the Killer mountain.

[@熊寶男]

Amazing woman.

[@franksmith541]

This season 145 climbers reached the top of K2, many of them with Sherpa support and guides. A climber took a picture of a long lineup near the summit, similar to what you see on Everest. K2 is becoming commercialized like Everest, because it is much cheaper to climb. After this season, the summit-to-death ratio of K2 is now much below Annapurna - just when K2 was starting to catch up. The bottom line is, if the weather is fine, an average climber can climb K2 with good guides and Sherpa support. It is Annapurna which is the deadliest of all the 8000m peaks. Only top climbers attempt it with minimal support, and you never see queues on it like you are now seeing on K2.

[@NasirKhan-ix1he]

But this climb differentiated Gerlinda from the rest of crowd. New route, no sherpas, only a team of 4 sumitting from a new route. Means they themselves had to lay fixed lines as they moved up.

[@haydennettleton3272]

They said the same about k2 10 years ago, that you would never see the queues of Everest as only the best climbers attempted k2 and it was too dangerous to guide. Annapurna is just 5-10 years away from becoming like Everest and k2.

[@photographer558]

Please pray for Pakistani mountaineer Ali sadpara he is missing from 4 days

[@nasreenbasrai7010]

I really wish Mr Sadpara was given this kind of platform to share his achievements.

[@photographer558]

@@nasreenbasrai7010 ❤❤

[@RG-5834]

A truly inspirational human being. Gerlinde is a mountaineering machine and proved it by climbing all 14 of the +8000m peaks without using supplemental oxygen. Her English is amazingly good, considering her Austrian nationality.

[@obey2dmax]

K2: I maybe 800 ft shorter than my taller sibling Everest, but I am more lethal, unpredictable and unforgiving.

[@alessandrogarosi1154]

She's a very strong woman!

[@AX1A]

the greatest humans, the legends, are also the humblest; Gerlinde epitomizes this

[@evab.6240]

Bravo Gerlinde. Amazing accomplishment.

[@nasirkhanam]

Brilliant Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner. This was her seventh attempt on K2 and finally successfull. In 2010 she aborted her summit attempt due to fatal fall of skier Fredrik Ericsson.

[@heatherbehan-egan9656]

I applaud your determination. Glad you didn't give up and made it to the top of the Savage Mountain.

[@samratdgreat]

Respect. You are truly an inspiration

[@michelpognante3934]

Encore une femme de plus à féliciter et à encourager !

[@jamilg2566]

Your story tear my eyes lot's of love from Pakistan

[@angelmatos9143]

An unbelievable challenge. Respect!

[@aglaisurticae5010]

Respekt,dass ist eine starke Leistung

[@WędkarzZPółnocy]

Urubko also climbed all (14) 8,000-meter peaks without oxygen. This winter Urubko, Bielicki and Txikon are going to ascent on K2, on a new route, North Face, without O2.

[@Wg-zx5ve]

This lady is a super hero along with these men!

[@TekSimkhada]

wow, the video is much better than the magazine version!

[@THXbox]

NW pillar...easily the hardest route on the hardest mountain in the world. Amazing!

[@mariumrajah]

is that the same as the magic line ???? the most gutsy women i have ever seen

[@vbgSnake]

No the SW Pillar is the Magic Line, also knows as the suicidal route. The North Pillar that Gerlinde took is a little bit more difficult than the Abruzzi Spur (SE Ridge). The N pillar and Abruzzi are among the most easy routes. Then the others are alot more dangerous. Nothing beats the Magic Line wich Reinhold Messner recalled as suicide.

[@dkopara]

Martin Bengtson Wrong about that. SW Pillar is the so called "magic" line but it's not the "suicide" route. Suicide route is the central pillar on the south face, climbed by Kukuczka and Piotrowski a month before the first ascent of the magic line (both climbed by the polish). Central pillar on the south face was only tried once again (escaped quickly) because of severe avalanche danger, that's why Messner called the route crazy and suicidal.

[@hredwolf]

Opara Third member of Magic Line's successful ascent was Peter Božik from Slovakia.

[@Dressagevids]

H.R. Grider How about the Polish Line, only climbed once and never repeated, probably the hardest definitely the most dangerous climbed so far

[@nasreenbasrai7010]

It's very important what decision one makes at that point in time...can be a make it or break it moment.

[@masoudxxx2002]

you are a true inspiration to me

[@plcustodian]

Gerlinde Kaltebrunner, if you're reading this, I want to say great accomplishment and all respect to you, I was wondering when you were on the summit of K2, were you able to see Nanga Parbat in the distance, I heard it can be.

[@BochaAtomik]

Qué gran ejemplo de perseverancia y voluntad, el factor monetario no importa cuando vas en búsqueda de lo que te apasiona, incluso, el riesgo ante los elementos; Gerlinde es un ejemplo de pasión por su deporte sin vanagloriarse ni desarrollar actitudes arrogantes.

[@loyalty266]

K2 has Never been Climbed in Winter

[@مدیفرااا]

Thanos Vlachos But recently by a #PakistanArmy climber Sir

[@plsniper]

Yes, the last over 8000 meter peak to be bagged in the winter. No one got as high as the Polish climbers. Hopefully they'll finally do it all the way to the top in 2019.

[@sambartabanerjee3766]

The Polish Ice Warriors are dealing with it.

[@naz6736]

@@sambartabanerjee3766 who are they

[@sanjogk.maharjan1802]

ANNAPURNA II TOO!

[@jeroenjansen2709]

Weather prediction, strategy, cooperation, persistence but not the blind one, is essential. Brilliant plan to start in bad weather conditionsmknowingnit willmimprove during the higher climb. Good feedback from Ralf. Amazing skill and mindfulness. This sets you apart from the other climbers. Like your respect for nature as opposed to the many reports about 'the savage killer mountain'. I assume the good weather conditions persisted during the descent

[@TrekkingExpertsNepal]

Great. Could you please cover the climber Mr. Pemba Dorje Sherpa's profile too? He is fastest person to ascent mount Everest.

[@lailaameen3467]

Salute from Pakistan 🇵🇰

[@priyankamohite5360]

Thank you for inspiring for North Piller K2

[@nasreenbasrai7010]

Amazing achievement.

[@Bereit18]

Great clip. Full respect to this lady. What an achievement and so humble with it. Top climber! :)

[@owen7185]

That was excellent, I like this lady, she's not a quitter

[@jagc3020]

Thanks for the story!

[@lronbutters5688]

Well done!

[@Unknown_Noise]

The first woman on K2 it is Wanda Rutkiewicz (23.06.1986 10:50)

[@muddyjake]

Thank you for sharing your experience. Your bravery is a great example for all climbers, especially women.

[@dennisdevasia3339]

Hello Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner, I am really motivated by your talks. You are a great woman.

[@fragelicious]

+dennis devasia A very powerful woman indeed.

[@miSaurabh_Joshi]

Great !!! she did it without using oxygen cylinder.

[@ultimatedijo7058]

Awesome. I m just broke. Wish I get a sponsor to help me fulfil this dream. Awesome n praises for this team.

[@hpygolkyone]

Can anyone imagine what mountaineering was like without all the high tech gear? K2 was conquered in '54. Helicopters, meteorologists 5000 miles away giving up to date weather, support teams with high powered telescopes telling you what route to take via 2-way radios, calling your Mother from a cell phone from the summit? Not taking anything away from this amazing feat, even today.......but it makes my head spin!

[@MilesBellas]

Accurate computer weather modelling = amazing parallel achievement.

[@bevleighlange3312]

What an achievement!!!

[@andrewc2768]

I was being sarcastic, not trying to be funny. I would never attempt verbal warfare with such an eloquent, sharp wit.

[@coolkk2]

Brave woman

[@ekmev]

Very Motivational

[@JEL1001]

Even more Impressive ! Thanks for the Info !

[@dpyatkov]

Max (pun unintended) respect to you friend. An amazing feat. I hope one day to climb a 14er in Colorado, and you have climbed twice as high.

[@bilalraaid]

That’s a great story, but it would have been even more greater if she had acknowledged the efforts of the local high altitude porters who had accompanying her.

[@michaelreid1209]

her mountain ascents were porterless

[@rm20334]

Most of them don’t do it. Sad

[@chickoohitch8976]

It's not mountain it's the love for Ralph and it's the strength I get from that

[@Mallick1990]

awesome lady

[@dinaguevarra5235]

Very nice to di thes gongrats to all of you

[@atiqfiroz8730]

Respect and homage to you !

[@AdventurePeaksGear]

such great pictures

[@imfrompakistan1108]

K2 the killer mountain

[@briansam2524]

I wonder if she saw Nanga Parbat from the top K2, I've heard that it can be.

[@ZMorpheus]

Only 1 out of 4 women makes it out of K2 alive, and she did it from the South side. which Messner calls "suicide". This achievement was huge in it's own right.

[@wizkid01]

+Samuel L Jackson actually she did it from the north side

[@mpreiss7780]

it has been attempted at least once by a Canadian team but they didn't finish it

[@matthewmartin3190]

and it's not women only. only 1 out of 4 PEOPLE period. gender dosent matter

[@tmanqz]

Women prefer the back door routes. Science.

[@SonyaRoennfeldt]

amazing!!! I love this video!

[@andrewc2768]

well said! Thank you for your thoughtful, poignant reply.

[@BeastOp-ut9id]

They say you have to die to visit heaven They Visited alive!