Austria's Everest pioneer: Wolfgang Nairz celebrates its 80th birthday!

Austria's Everest pioneer: Wolfgang Nairz celebrates its 80th birthday!

Kitzbühel, Österreich - Wolfgang Nairz, the legendary Tyrolean mountaineer and expedition leader, comes to life in the memories of the mountaineering community. He was born in Kitzbühel on November 27, 1944 and is known for his impressive resume in the high mountains of the world. Particularly noteworthy is his outstanding role in the first Austrian climbing of Mount Everest in 1978, which he realized together with Robert Schauer and Horst Bergmann. This was a milestone of the Austrian alpine history, especially since Reinhold Messner and Peter Habeler also reached the summit without a bottle oxygen. For Nairz, mountaineering was more than just a sport; It was a passion that often led him into the most remote corners of the Himalayas, where he left over 70 times, as wikipedia reports .

tireless adventurer

Nairz was not only active at the top of the mountains, but also in teaching. After training as a mountain and ski leader, he began training future mountain guides in 1967. His first summit attempt in the Himalaya was at the Manaslu in 1972. He was also a pioneer in kite flying and balloon driving, whereby he flew from the highest mountain in Afghanistan in a spectacular way. Despite tragic setbacks, such as the loss of his friend in an ice avalanche during an expedition, he remained loyal to the mountains. On New Year's Eve in the Western Alps came to him: "We also freeze in the Himalayas, so we organize an expedition", which finally led to numerous other climbs, reported ORF TIROL .

Nairz 'ambition extended far beyond the summit; For his 80th birthday, he returned to Nepal for the 108th time and was involved in humanitarian projects. He founded the Nepalhilfe, which aimed to build schools and hospitals in the country's remote regions. With a motto that summarizes his philosophy - "If my friends are happy, I am Happy" - he not only shaped the mountaineering, but also the people who met.