Gold Sponsors
Horia Colibășanu, the Romanian mountaineer who has climbed eight of the highest peaks in the world, is leaving today for his next Himalayan expedition at over 8,000 meters, taking on the challenge of opening a new route to the Dhaulagiri peak (8,167 m), ranked in the Top 5 most perilous mountains. In the days to come, the Timișoara-based athlete will start acclimatizing in the Annapurna area, then start trekking towards the Dhaulagiri base camp on April 10th.
This year, Colibășanu is teaming up with Marius Gane (51), Romanian professional sportsman and high altitude climber, as well as Peter Hámor (53), the Slovakian climber who has summited all 14 8,000ers in the Himalayas. The three athletes will perform a climb without supplemental oxygen, as well as without Sherpa assistance.
“Opening a new route in the Himalayas, at over 8,000 meters altitude, is an older project, which we have attempted to accomplish several times. I believe in this year’s success, because my expedition mates, Marius Gane and Peter Hámor, are also eager to take on such a project. Between us, we have years of experience in high altitude climbing amounting to more than any of our ages. Peter and I have already climbed Dhaulagiri, while Marius specializes in technical and highly difficult routes. I only wish the weather would be on our side this year. We are confident and have been training for several months to face up to a route where no one has treaded before.” – Horia Colibășanu, upon leaving for the Himalayas.
The plan is for the three athletes to head for the base of Dhaulagiri (8,167) on April 10th. On April 16th they intend to reach base camp, then start acclimatizing on April 19th at higher altitudes, equipping the climbing route and installing intermediary camps towards the summit. The final ascent is planned for the May 15th-25th window, when the weather forecast is most favourable for climbs at over 8,000 meters. Return home for the three athletes is planned for beginning of June 2019.
You can follow the expedition on www.horiacolibasanuhimalaya.ro , on the “Horia Colibășanu” Facebook page, as well as his twitter account.
2019 marks Colibășanu’s 21st international expedition, as well as his 16th in the Himalayas.
This expedition is a project of the Alternative Sports Club from Timișoara (Romania), 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, Comtim and Webasto.
The ascent’s Silver Level Sponsor is: AD Auto Total.
Bronse Level Sponsors are: Mewi, Poka, Recaş Vineyards, Timişoara City Hall and Timiș County Council.
Technical partners are: Mammut, La Sportiva and Cebe. Equipment partners are: SportGuru amd Sorins.
SPORTS CAREER
Horia Colibășanu is a professional sportsman and high altitude climber, 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.
Silver SPONSORS
Bronze SPONSORS
