First-hand insider tips

about climbing 7 Summits and other Mountains.

Things I’d love to know before I went on those expeditions.

Everest

We have asked a veteran-climbing Sherpa what is needed to go up the mountain? He took a deep breath and said “you have to pray a lot”. And you know what? It is a damn good idea! You also have to get the foundation right: right training, right equipment and right team.

Denali

Denali. Pure beauty. My favorite expedition to date. It was a bliss, even minding anxiety of waiting for the weather window, being crammed 4 people head-to-toes in down + equipment in a 3 person tent.

Elbrus

5642 m / 18510 feet: the highest point of Europe is a beautiful two-headed volcano with summits at Elbrus East and Elbrus West that differ only by 21 meter, the West one being higher. Ascent to Elbrus is kind of combination of Kilimanjaro hike and MontBlanc climb = you are hiking the volcano in crampons and with an ice axe.

Mont Blanc

The Alps are fantastic: mighty and delicate at the same time, depending on the benchmark. And who can resist the lure of iconic Monte Bianco?

Kosciuzsko

With all due respect to the beauty of the place, 2,228 meters (7,310 ft) tall Mount Kosciuszko is not quite a “mountain”. The slopes are nice and gentle and elevation is very moderate, so it is more of a “hill”. However it is a hill with opportunities!

Hvanadalshnjukur

This mountain is dear to my heart. This is the place where everything started. If anybody had told me then that I would be standing on the top of Mount Everest in just 5 years, I would never have believed…

Kilimanjaro

The logic to do this one for us was: it promised stunning vistas and we’d love to spent time in Africa. Besides, with 5,895 m (19,341 ft) we could test our bodies on adaptation to altitude. So, when the opportunity turned up – we jumped in!

Aconcagua

Majestic Aconcagua (6962 m / 22,841 ft) is the highest point in the Western and the Southern hemisphere and can be hiked and climbed up in a variety of ways. One summit of Aconcagua in a climber’s life is probably not enough.