Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner, born in 1970 in Kirchdorf an der Krems, Austria, was a nurse and started climbing seriously at a young age. Her enthusiasm for cold, thin air began at the age of 23 on the fore-summit of Broad Peak. She became a professional mountaineer in 2003, and thus far has summited thirteen eight-thousanders in the purest style. Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner has practiced a bold and clean style of climbing without supplementary oxygen and minimal support on eight thousand metre peaks. She often leads, breaks trail and carries heavy loads. Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner climbs mountains for the joy of it, and not for the fame of becoming the first woman on all fourteen giants. She has therefore turned back in situations she considered too dangerous and has rescued fellow mountaineers with severe mountain sickness above eight thousand metres. She is an eminent promoter of women climbing the highest peaks of the world. Together with Karin Steinbach she has written the autobiography «Ganz bei mir. Leidenschaft Achttausender» (2009). Links Gerlinde KaltenbrunnerBiography Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner Award Ceremony 2010The Award
