About Karl Unterkircher
Karl Unterkircher (27 August 1970 – 15 July 2008) was an Italian mountaineer. He is mostly known for opening new mountain routes. Unterkircher was born in Sëlva. In 2004, he was the first alpinist to climb the two highest peaks on Earth (Mount Everest and K2) without oxygen in the same year (within 63 days) he made the second ascent of Mount Genyen, China, (first ascent by Japanese in 1987) and the first ascent of the North face of Gasherbrum II (together with Daniele Bernasconi and Michele Compagnoni). He also climbed the Jasemba, Nepal, (together with Hans Kammerlander). He received several awards including the Cavaliere Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana. On 15 July 2008 he fell into a crevasse while descending from the summit of Nanga Parbat and is presumed dead. "Karl Unterkircher was the new star of mountain climbing", commented Reinhold Messner when told of his death. On 14 July 2018 Italian Simone Moro, Spaniard Alex Txikon and Pakistani Muhammad Ali were awarded the 5th Karl Unterkircher for the first winter ascent of Nanga Parbat (8126m) on 26 February 2016. This award was conferred for the first time in July 2010 in Sëlva to the Swiss rock climber Ueli Steck.
Biography source: Wikipedia. The profile adds birthday-specific historical context from the Celebs Birthday Today editorial database.