Gasherbrum II (8,035m), Pakistan
I teamed up with Gorgan Wildberger and Serap Jangbu Sherpa to attempt a double-header: climbing Gasherbrum I (8,068m) and Gasherbrum II (8,035m). These two 8,000-meter peaks are located in the heart of the Karakoram range, just a few kilometers away from K2 and Broad Peak.
K2 (8,611m), Pakistan
At 8,611 m, K2 is the second-highest mountain in the world and is noted for its technical difficulty among the fourteen 8,000 m peaks. During our expedition, we attempted the Abruzzi Spur but were forced back by challenging weather, rockfall, and a major avalanche.
Makalu (8,485m), Nepal
Pasang Gombu and I had already climbed Everest together. This time, we teamed up again to climb Makalu. At 8,485m, Makalu is the fifth-highest mountain in the world.
Kangchenjunga (8,586m), Nepal
Our French-Swiss team successfully climbed the Southwest Face of Kangchenjunga. At 8,586m, Kangchenjunga is the third-highest mountain in the world.
Everest (8,848m), Tibet
Far from the crowds often seen in photos, there were only about a dozen of us reaching the summit that day. The wind had been blowing for days, dropping the wind chill to -47°C. I have never been so cold, not even in Antarctica or Alaska in winter. Reaching the top triggered emotions that were as intense as they were mixed—joy, fear, sadness, emptiness. Everest is a mountain that leaves a mark.