Carstensz (4,884m), West Papua
The final chapter of my Seven Summits journey took me to the heart of West Papua. A limestone fortress rising from the jungle, Carstensz Pyramid (4,884m) is a world apart from the frozen peaks of the other continents.
Vinson (4,892m), Antarctica
Mount Vinson (4,892 m) is the highest peak in Antarctica. It is neither technically very difficult nor particularly high, but its isolation, the endless ice, and the extreme weather conditions (wind chill down to −45°C) make it an extraordinary summit.
Ama Dablam (6,812m), Nepal
Jean-Marc Wojcik and I climbed Ama Dablam (6,812m) in 16 days. Being there outside of the peak season, we were fortunate to find only about a dozen people on the mountain.
Khan Tengri (7,010m), Kyrgyzstan
Yannick and I teamed up to climb the Pogrebetsky route on the South Face and West Ridge of Khan Tengri (7,010m) in Kyrgyzstan.
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.