February 21, 2012
Newburgh, NY -
Kurt Diemberger, the only person alive known to have made first
ascents of two of the world’s 8,000-metre mountains -- Broad Peak
in Xinjiang/Baltistan, China/Pakistan, in 1957 and Dhaulagiri in
Pokhara, Nepal, in 1960 -- will speak at Mount Saint Mary College
on March 1 at 7 pm in Aquinas Hall, Room 216.
The public is invited to this free event, but seating is
limited.
An accomplished alpinist and author, Diemberger made those
climbs without the use of supplemental oxygen. Broad Peak, which he
climbed with the late Hermann Buhl and two others, was the first
eight-thousander to be climbed in West Alpine style, long before
this technique became widely used on the Himalayan giants.
Alpine style is self sufficient mountaineering including
carrying all of one's food, shelter, and equipment, and refusing
fixed ropes, high-altitude porters, and supplemental oxygen.
Having climbed six of the world's 8,000-metre peaks, Diemberger
is probably best known for his 30 year association with K2, in the
mighty Karakoram range spanning the borders between Pakistan,
India, and China, and for surviving the 1986 K2 disaster during a
severe storm, which claimed the lives of 13 climbers. This became
the subject of his first book, “The Endless Knot,” and the
award-winning movie, “Mountain of Dreams and Destiny.” Diemberger
has written more than a dozen books.
For information about the lecture, or to interview Diemberger,
contact Dr. John Reilly, history professor, at 845-568-3155 or john.reilly@msmc.edu.