Mountaineers of the Century
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EverestNews.com Readers
Picks
Greatest Climber: Reinhold Messner
Jerzy Kukuczka, Second.
Greatest Woman Climber: Wanda
Rutkiewicz & Alison Hargreaves.
Greatest American Climber: No Clear
pick: Hornbein & Lowe & Viesturs top in the votes. But many climbers receiving
votes.
Greatest Sherpa climber: Appa
Sherpa
Greatest climbing pair: Erhard
Loretan and Jean Troillet
Greatest Guide: Rob Hall
This was fun ! Many gave us their
comments with the votes. Overall, it seems our readers had a similar process that the
staff at EverestNews.com did.
We first pulled out the great
technical climbers and discussed that they should be the greatest. Then we discussed that
others had done more and that many had died. It seems to us that if you died during a
summit you really did not make it...
Therefore, we agreed that Overall
Achievement (where the climber came home) was the highest basis to be used, in our
opinion.
If you have not sent us your
opinion, Please do !
Give us Your opinion at everestnews2004@adelphia.net
These votes should also point out
to you that many of these H.A. climbers die. If you are just getting into this sport, know
that there is a real probability of losing your life out there. Every time you climb on
these 8000 meter peaks, you put your life on the line. Look at Alex Lowe, Ginette Harrison
and the many others we have lost this year. Be safe, careful and enjoy.
Mountaineers of the
Century (Staff
Picks)
A Tie for the Greatest:
Greatest Climber: Reinhold Messner
& Jerzy Kukuczka
Jerzy, list of climbs are just too
tough not to be first. No climbers today, are attempting Jerzy climbs in his style.
Messner is Messner.
Greatest Woman Climber: Wanda
Rutkiewicz with Ginette Harrison a close second because of her 98-May Kangchenjunga North
face (28,208ft) - first female ascent of the mountain puts her on the list, along with her
5 other 8000 meter Summits in two years. A couple of Chinese women climbers are heading up
the list. Alison Hargreaves did not make it down from K2.
Greatest American Climber: Tom
Hornbein, toughest one to pick.
Greatest Sherpa: Apa Sherpa with
Babu Sherpa a close second.
Greatest climbing pair: Erhard
Loretan and Jean Troillet
Greatest Guide: Rob Hall
These opinions from the Staff at
EverestNews.com
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