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Press release
Climber Horia Colibășanu is off to the Himalayas again, to open a new route to the summit of Everest
Romanian high-altitude climber Horia Colibășanu has left today, March 29th 2018, for the Himalayas, in a new attempt to summit Everest, this time on a never before tried route to the highest peak in the world.
The 2018 expedition is starting April 3rd, once the trekking through the Khumbu Valley of Nepal is complete, and will finish end of May.
“This year’s expedition is a challenge for me, as a high altitude climber. I’ve set out to try and open a new climbing route to the summit of Everest, relying on my experience thus far and especially that of last year, when I managed to stay several consecutive days at altitudes exceeding 8,000 meters”, said Horia Colibășanu about his objective for this year.
The Romanian sportsman will have Peter Hámor (53) as rope mate, a Slovakian climber who summitted all fourteen 8,000ers. Horia and Peter share an 8 year experience as a team.
“Peter Hámor is one of the climbers I hold in great regard. He is a good sportsman, fast and with a rich experience in the Himalayas. I’m counting heavily on our team for this ascent to succeed, considering the challenge we’ve set out for 2018”, added Colibășanu.
This year marks Colibășanu’s 20th international expedition and also his 15th in the Himalayas.
The Everest ascent is a project of Alternative Sports Club from Timișoara, affiliated to the Romanian Mountaineering and Climbing Federation, which runs and monitors mountaineering projects included in the international sports calendar.
Horia Colibășanu is supported in this expedition by the following Gold Level Sponsors: Profi, FAN Courier and Comtim.
The ascent project’s Silver Level Sponsor is: AD Auto Total.
Bronze Level Sponsors are: Mewi, Poka, Recaş Vineyards and the Timişoara City Hall.
Equipment partners are: Marmot, S75.ro, Sport Guru, Suunto, GoPro, Deltatel.
The expedition can be followed on www.horiacolibasanuhimalaya.ro, the 'Horia Colibășanu’ Facebook page and his Twitter page.
SPORTS CAREER
Horia Colibășanu is considered the most accomplished Romanian mountaineer in the history of Romania, already having under his belt successful summits on 8 of the 14 8,000ers in the world.
His successful expeditions in the Himalayas, as well as his principles of sports ethics regarding climbing without additional oxygen and without the assistance of Sherpas have made his fellow citizens greatly admire him and support him in his endeavors.
His sports results have also been appreciated by Romania’s President Mr. Klaus Iohannis, who in June 2017 granted Horia Colibășanu the highest distinction to be given by the President: “Romania’s Star” National Order, in rank of Knight.
Colibășanu’s most notable ascents have been accomplished on Annapurna, K2 and Dhaulagiri, three of the Top 5 deadliest mountains in the world according to The Economist (May 2013), quoting Eberhard Jurgalski, an authority in the field.
The peaks so far reached by Colibășanu are K2 (8,611m), Manaslu (8,163m), Dhaulagiri (8,167m), Shishapangma (8,027m), Annapurna (8,091m), Makalu (8,463m), Lhotse (8,516m), Everest (8,848m).
Horia has taken part in 19 international expeditions throughout his career (up to 2017), while teammate with climbers from various countries, such as Slovakia, Russia, Spain and Poland.
The tragically ended expedition of 2008 on Annapurna– when he lost his friend and rope mate, Iñaki Ochoa – was a turning point for Horia.
Elizabeth Hawley, the most thorough chronicler of Himalayan expeditions ever to have lived, recalled: “Horia put his own life in danger by staying [for 72 hours at over 7,400m altitude] with his sick teammate, Iñaki Ochoa, while he himself had become gravely ill because of the high altitude they were at.”
Horia sounded the alarm at base camp, and some of the best mountaineers in the world set out to save Iñaki. Annapurna 2008 was the most complex rescue operation in the history of the Himalayas.
Based on this true story, Arena Comunicación of Spain and Spanish TV Channel TVE produced the “Pura Vida/The Ridge” documentary, winner of the San Sebastian International Film Festival.
The climbers who risked their lives for Iñaki, including Horia Colibășanu, have been awarded various distinctions:
Nominees for the Prince of Asturias Awards (2008) – “for their sacrifice, generosity, team spirit and friendship”.
“Spirit of Mountaineering”, part of the “Piolet d’Or” Festivity (2009)
“Sports Merit” Gold medal, from the government of Navarre (2008). Few have received, in the course of time, the “Sports Merit” decoration, one of them being Miguel Indurain, winner of the Tour de France five consecutive years (1991-1995).
Horia Colibășanu is the only Romanian climber to receive the “Spirit of Mountaineering” commendation from the British Alpine Club, the first and most prestigious mountaineering club in the world.
In the Media
Click the links below to read a selection of news throughout Horia's mountaineering career.
Note: Most of the news items in this section were produced in Horia's native language, for a local audience. If you need some specific content to be translated, please send us an e-mail here: contact@horiaColibasanu.com. Please mention your name and the media outlet.
Stirile Pro TV (mai, 2013): O imagine cat 8,516 metri. Horia Colibasanu a cucerit varful Lhotse din Muntii Himalaya (http://bit.ly/117gskN)
Adevarul Timisoara (Stefan Both), mai 2013: Revolta pe Himalaya. Horia Colibasanu si-a salvat colegii alpinisti de linsajul nepalezilor (http://bit.ly/1f3agAs)
Jurnalul (Paul Rogojinaru), aprilie 2013: Omul zilei: Horia Colibasanu (http://bit.ly/1g8enu5)
Observator TV, mai 2012: Aventura lui Horia Colibasanu spre cel mai periculos varf din lume s-a incheiat (http://bit.ly/1c9Ib9y)
Ziarul Financiar (Mirabela Tiron), aprilie 2012: Un roman va escalada al treilea varf din lume! (http://bit.ly/1dYgi2m)
Koyos blog, decembrie 2011: Horia Colibasanu, premiat pentru cea mai valoroasa ascensiune din 2011 (http://bit.ly/1f3rhuu)
Cariere (Daniela Oancea), septembrie 2011: Supravietuitorul (http://bit.ly/GBt4sE)
Hotnews, aprilie 2010: Horia Colibasanu a cucerit Varful Annapurna. Premiera pentru Romania (http://bit.ly/1c9T9vS)
Adevarul.es (Adrian Dinu), martie 2010: Un film cu Horia Colibasanu i-a motivat pe fotbalistii Barcelonei (http://bit.ly/1f3jhts)
Stirile Rol.ro: Horia Colibasanu, primul alpinist roman care primeste distinctia "Spirit of Mountaineering" (http://bit.ly/369jhts)
Agenda, aprilie 2009: Alpinistul Horia Colibasanu, premiat cu Piolet D'Or (http://bit.ly/16IUzMO)
Stirile Pro TV, 2009: Horia Colibasanu, nominalizat la premiul Printul de Asturia (http://bit.ly/1dYiqap)
Romania Libera (Gabriel Bejan), mai 2008: Erou pe acoperisul lumii (http://bit.ly/19kY0t6)
Realitatea.net, mai 2007: Horia Colibasanu a atins varful Himalayan Dhaulagiri! (http://bit.ly/18UZMgy)
Alpinet, iulie 2004: Un alpinist roman a cucerit varful K2 (http://bit.ly/GzZ3c4)
Useful links
You may also find useful:
"Mountain Men: The Ghosts of K2" - A BBC documentary which explores the history of climbing K2, the mountaineers mountain. Horia Colibasanu successfully ascended K2 in 2004. No other Romanian mountaineer was atop of K2 up to now. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPD4AiLCG4w
Pura Vida/The Ridge - The synopsis and the trailer of the documentary film where Horia Colibasanu played a key-role in the biggest rescue attempt in the history of the Himalayas. Winner at San Sebastian International Film Festival. http://www.puravidatheridge.com/screening/
The Himalayan Database - a compilation of records for all expeditions that have climbed in the Nepalese Himalaya. http://www.himalayandatabase.com/
The Alpine Club - the world's first mountaineering club (1857), with members from around the world. http://www.alpine-club.org.uk/
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