Hermann Buhl facts for kids
Buhl in 1953
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Austrian |
| Born | 21 September 1924 Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria |
| Died | 27 June 1957 (aged 32) Chogolisa, Karakoram |
| Occupation | Mountaineer |
| Climbing career | |
| Known for | 1953 German–Austrian Nanga Parbat expedition |
| First ascents | |
Hermann Buhl (born September 21, 1924 – died June 27, 1957) was a famous Austrian mountaineer. He was the first person to climb two very tall mountains: Nanga Parbat in 1953 and Broad Peak in 1957.
Contents
Early Life and Climbing Adventures
Hermann Buhl was born in Innsbruck, Austria. He was the youngest of four children. After his mother passed away, he lived in an orphanage for some years.
As a teenager, Hermann started climbing in the Austrian Alps. He joined the German Alpine association in Innsbruck in 1939. He quickly became very skilled at climbing. He was also a member of the mountain rescue team in Innsbruck.
During World War II, Hermann joined the Alpine troops. He was later taken as a prisoner by American soldiers. After the war, he returned to Innsbruck. He worked different jobs and then became a trained mountain guide.
Climbing the Himalayas
Hermann Buhl became famous for his climbs in the Himalayas. These are the world's highest mountains.
First Ascent of Nanga Parbat
Before Hermann Buhl's climb in 1953, 31 people had died trying to reach the top of Nanga Parbat. This mountain is one of the world's 14 "eight-thousanders." An eight-thousander is a mountain taller than 8,000 meters (about 26,247 feet).
Hermann Buhl was the first person to climb an eight-thousander by himself. He did this on his very first trip to the high mountains. His climbing partner was too slow, so Buhl decided to go on alone.
He returned 41 hours later, barely alive. He had climbed 6.5 kilometers (4 miles) and gained 1.2 kilometers (4,000 feet) in height from his camp. He even spent a night standing on a tiny ledge, holding on, on the edge of a steep ice slope. This amazing effort became a legend in mountaineering.
First Ascent of Broad Peak
A few years later, in 1957, Hermann Buhl joined another Austrian expedition. On June 8 and 9, he and three other climbers reached the true summit of Broad Peak. This mountain is 8,051 meters (26,414 feet) tall.
They climbed Broad Peak without extra oxygen. They also did not use high-altitude porters or much support from their base camp. This was a very impressive achievement.
Tragedy on Chogolisa
Just a few weeks after climbing Broad Peak, Buhl and his friend Kurt Diemberger tried to climb nearby Chogolisa. This mountain was unclimbed at the time. They climbed in "Alpine style," which means carrying all their gear and not setting up many camps.
Hermann Buhl got lost in a sudden snowstorm. He accidentally walked over a large snow overhang called a cornice. This caused an avalanche. He fell 900 meters (about 2,950 feet) down the mountain. His body was never found and remains in the ice.
Hermann Buhl's Legacy
Hermann Buhl is remembered as one of the greatest mountaineers. Other famous climbers admired his skills on rock and snow. They also respected his attitude towards the mountains.
He inspired many younger climbers, like Reinhold Messner. Hermann Buhl's climb of Nanga Parbat was even made into a movie called The Climb in 1986. The movie was based on Buhl's own writings about his expedition.
See also
In Spanish: Hermann Buhl para niños
- List of famous Austrians
- List of Austrian mountaineers
- List of climbers
