NYU Shows How Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner Scaled K2, Highest Mountains

On Tuesday, February 23 at 7:30 p.m., NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts and National Geographic Live present Austrian mountaineer Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner, the first woman to scale the earth's 14 highest mountain peaks without the use of supplementary oxygen, in an adventure-packed multimedia presentation titled "K2: Danger and Desire on the Savage Mountain" Kaltenbrunner will share the dramatic story of how she prepared for and triumphed on K2, the world's second highest mountain, told with breathtaking photos and video from the roof of the world.
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Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner has climbed all 14 of the "Eight-thousanders" (the earth's 14 mountains that are higher than 8,000 meters). When she reached the summit of K2 in 2011, she became the first woman to scale all of the Eight-thousanders without the use of supplementary oxygen. In addition to her passion for climbing the high mountains of the Himalaya, she also is enchanted with the people and culture of the region.

Her achievement earned her recognition as one of National Geographic's 2012 Adventurers of the Year. Kaltenbrunner's primary goal for her 2011 K2 climb, featured in National Geographic magazine in April 2012, was to climb K2 from the remote Chinese side, along the most dangerous route. Known as the mountaineer's mountain, K2 has taken the life of roughly one climber for every four who have succeeded in making the summit.

On this expedition, heavy snowfall just before the team's summit attempt increased the danger of avalanches on the mountain's steep slope. The team faced many critical decisions. Two members, including her husband Ralf, decided to abandon the climb halfway through. Kaltenbrunner pushed on with three other climbers, and, despite the dangers, reached the summit first -- making mountaineering history.

Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner's interest in mountain climbing developed while she was growing up in Spital am Pyhrn, Austria. Reverend Erich Tischler, the town's youth leader, would take her on climbs up the surrounding mountains after church services. At the age of 13, Kaltenbrunner ventured up her first major peak, "Sturzhahn," a 2,028-meter climb, and then rarely skipped an opportunity to go climbing. She enjoyed ski, ice, and climbing tours while she completed her nursing training in Upper Austria and Vienna. Her greatest dream -- climbing an 8,000-meter peak -- came true at the age of 23, when she succeeded in climbing the fore-summit of Broad Peak in Pakistan, at a height of 8,027 meters.

She then put the money she earned as a nurse into different trekking and climbing expeditions to the Himalaya. After climbing the Nanga Parbat, her fifth 8,000-meter peak, in 2003, she decided to become a professional mountain climber.

National Geographic Live is the live events division of the National Geographic Society, a global nonprofit membership organization driven by a passionate belief in the power of science, exploration and storytelling to change the world. With a broad roster of talent, including renowned photographers, scientists, authors, filmmakers and adventurers, National Geographic Live's critically acclaimed programs have connected with audiences worldwide for over a century.

Currently, National Geographic Live events are held in 32 cities around the world, including New York, Seattle, Chicago, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Singapore and Sydney. In each of these cities, speakers share behind-the-scenes stories from the front lines of exploration on stage alongside stunning imagery and gripping footage. In 2014, National Geographic Live events were attended by over 150,000 people. For more information visit nglive.org.

"K2: Danger and Desire On The Savage Mountain," will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 23, at NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, 566 LaGuardia Place in New York City. Single tickets range in price from $35-70. Member and student discounts are available.