Category: Mount Kilimanjaro

Alan Paul Rouse popularly known as Al Rouse, was born on December 19, 1951, in Wallasey. He began his climbing journey at the age of 15, tackling challenging routes in North Wales. Rouse attended Birkenhead School from 1963 to 1970 and then Emmanuel College, Cambridge, until 1973. However, his passion for climbing often took precedence over his studies, leading to an ordinary pass degree in Mathematics. Rouse was renowned for his exceptional talent as a rock climber, mastering difficult routes such as 'The Beatnik' on Helsby and soloing 'The Boldest' on Clogwyn Du'r Arddu. He was part of a competitive group of climbers who pushed the boundaries by soloing challenging routes. His mountaineering endeavours extended beyond Wales, with notable ascents in various locations worldwide, including Scotland, Patagonia, the Alps, and Nepal. Rouse became a professional mountaineer, engaging in lecturing, guiding, and writing, while also serving as an advisor to the outdoor equipment trade. In 1986, Rouse led a British expedition to K2, the second-highest mountain in the world. Despite facing challenges, including unsuccessful attempts to establish camps on their chosen route, Rouse and a team of climbers persisted. Eventually, they reached the summit on August 4, 1986, but tragedy struck during the descent. A storm trapped the climbers at Camp IV, leading to a life-threatening situation. Despite efforts to descend, Rouse succumbed to the harsh conditions on August 10, 1986. He left behind his girlfriend, Deborah Sweeney, who gave birth to their daughter, Holly, shortly after his death. Rouse's legacy as a skilled climber and adventurous spirit endures, though his life was cut short during the 1986 K2 disaster. Through the establishment of a memorial garden and the placement of a Heritage Blue Plaque, the Friends of The Breck have paid tribute to the great mountaineer Al Rouse, who was

Paul Preuss, born on August 19, 1886, in Altaussee, Austria, was an Austrian alpinist known for his daring solo climbs and his advocacy of an ethically pure style of alpinism, an excellent chess player, tennis player, ice skater, and very multilingual, he spoke English, French, German and Italian. His early years were marked by a childhood illness, polio-like in nature, which left him partially paralyzed at the age of six. Despite this setback, Preuss developed a passion for the mountains, often accompanying his father on excursions and later pursuing summits on his own. After completing his education in plant physiology at the University of Vienna and Munich University, Preuss embarked on a climbing career characterized by remarkable achievements. At the age of twenty, he began climbing at a high level, achieving his first significant solo ascent, the Pichl-Route on the North Face of the Planspitze, shortly before his twenty-second birthday. Preuss's climbing career was distinguished by numerous solo ascents and first ascents, totalling over 1,200 climbs, with a significant portion done solo. He excelled not only in rock climbing but also in snow and ice ascents, as well as ski mountaineering. Despite his preference for solitude on the mountains, Preuss was known for his amiable personality and close friendships with fellow climbers, including women like his sister Mina. Throughout his climbing endeavours, Preuss maintained a commitment to ethical purity in alpinism, advocating against the use of artificial aids such as pitons and ropes. He believed in climbing in a style that relied solely on the climber's skill and judgment, rather than technological advancements. His views sparked debates within the climbing community, leading to the Mauerhakenstreit, or piton dispute, in which Preuss argued for a return to a more traditional, minimalist approach to climbing. Some people would wonder, "Paul who?" You

Chantal Mauduit, a renowned French alpinist, left an indelible mark on the world of mountaineering before her untimely death. Born in Paris on March 24, 1964, Mauduit's passion for climbing began at a young age when she arrived in the French Alps at five years old. By the time she was 15, she was already scaling challenging routes in the Alps, foreshadowing the remarkable mountaineering career that lay ahead. Mauduit's climbing endeavours took her beyond the Alps to the Andes and eventually to the towering peaks of the Himalayas. In 1992, she achieved a significant milestone by summiting K2, becoming the fourth woman ever to do so. Undeterred by the risks and challenges of high-altitude climbing, she went on to conquer other formidable peaks, including Shisha Pangma in 1993, Cho Oyu in 1993, Lhotse in 1996 (where she made history as the first woman to solo the ascent), Manaslu in 1996, and Gasherbrum II in 1997. Notably, Mauduit accomplished these feats without the aid of supplemental oxygen, showcasing her exceptional skill and endurance as a mountaineer. Tragically, Mauduit's illustrious climbing career was cut short on May 11, 1998, when she lost her life at Camp II on Dhaulagiri. Alongside her Sherpa partner Ang Tsering, she met her demise, with an autopsy later revealing that she had suffered a broken neck. Despite the heartbreaking loss, Mauduit's legacy endures through the lasting impact she made on the mountaineering community and her contributions to humanitarian efforts in Nepal. In memory of her philanthropic spirit, Mauduit's loved ones established the Association Chantal Mauduit Namasté, dedicated to supporting underprivileged Nepalese children, particularly girls in need of education. One of the tangible outcomes of this foundation is the Chantal Mauduit School in Kathmandu, which provides education to 200 children, embodying Mauduit's commitment to making a difference

Markus Kronthaler, an Austrian gendarme and mountaineer, left an indelible mark on the world of mountaineering with his daring expeditions and unwavering commitment to the mountains. Born on April 5, 1967, in Kufstein, Tyrol, Kronthaler's passion for climbing was evident from an early age. He combined his profession as an officer in Austria's Gendarmerie with his love for the mountains, eventually transitioning to become a professional climber in 2003. Kronthaler's mountaineering career was marked by both triumph and tragedy. In January 2006, he miraculously survived a harrowing free fall of 150 meters into the snow, demonstrating his resilience and determination in the face of adversity. Undeterred by the near-fatal accident, Kronthaler embarked on a new expedition to Chogolisa and Broad Peak in Pakistan just a few months later, in May 2006. Tragically, Kronthaler's final ascent of Broad Peak ended in exhaustion and ultimately, his untimely death. Despite reaching the summit on July 8, 2006, he succumbed to the gruelling conditions of the mountain. His body remained on Broad Peak, a poignant reminder of the unforgiving nature of the high-altitude environment he so passionately explored. In the summer of 2007, an Austrian mountaineering team undertook the arduous task of retrieving Kronthaler's remains from Broad Peak, marking the highest-ever body recovery from a mountain. His body was brought back to Austria and cremated, and his urn was laid to rest in his hometown of Kufstein, a fitting tribute to a courageous and adventurous spirit. Throughout his career, Kronthaler undertook numerous expeditions to some of the world's most formidable peaks, showcasing his skill, determination, and love for the mountains. From the towering heights of Shishapangma in Tibet to the remote reaches of Nanga Parbat in Kashmir, Kronthaler's expeditions were a testament to his passion for exploration and his unwavering pursuit of adventure. Though

Lionel Terray, a legendary figure in the world of mountaineering, left an indelible mark on the history of climbing. Born on July 25, 1921, in Grenoble, France, Terray's life was defined by his passion for the mountains and his unparalleled climbing skills. The climber Lionel Terray is widely considered to be among the best of our time. His participation in the ascent of five major peaks in the Himalaya and five in the Andes, as well as the second ascent of the Eiger North Face, and numerous more climbs of the highest class, have been among the most notable accomplishments of his career. His career as a climbing guide has allowed him to bring a great number of people, both male and female, to the world of beauty and adventure that he has spent his entire life in. Even in the event that the narration was as uninteresting as the Pas de Calais, his story would still be worth reading. Conquistadors of the Useless, on the other hand, is not at all like that. M. Terray possesses a mind that is powerful, unique, and authentic. In addition to being interested with technical accomplishments, he is also preoccupied with ecstasy and pain. Despite being a determined professional writer, he writes with the enthusiasm of an amateur. He is able to handle both success and failure with ease. Both the ascent of the Eiger and the French expedition that climbed Annapurna in 1950, which was the first of the big Himalayan summits to be scaled by man, are considered to be the two most significant events in his life and the cornerstones of his book. His constant companion on the great climbs was Louis Lachenal, a queer, passionate, and brilliant man who survived the desperate triumph on Annapurna, mutilated by frostbite, to