Nepal. The “Expedition Himalaya” to Himlung Himal (7,126 m) was something truly special. For the first time, Benedikt, in his capacity as an ambassador for the nature conservation organisation WWF, travelled to this country that has grown so dear to his heart. So, instead of heading straight to base camp as is usually the case, the expedition first heads to the south of Nepal, to Chitwan National Park. Together with a WWF delegation, the expedition team was able not only to observe unique wildlife – rhinos, tigers, crocodiles, etc. – at close quarters, but also to meet people who experience the human-wildlife conflict first-hand in the tension between wild nature and human settlement. It is impressive how, although some are clearly scarred by tiger or bear attacks, they fight for the restoration and preservation of this rich wildlife!

Via what are at times adventurous, rain-washed “roads”, the journey then continues towards the base camp of Himlung Himal. There, complete solitude awaits them; Benedikt, his partner Prakash Sherpa and the two cameramen, Alessandro d’Emilia and Luca Junior, are the only people for miles around! They soon realise that they are not the first people there. The vast wilderness is littered with rubbish left behind by previous expeditions – all the way up to 6,500 metres! Their frustration is immense – but their motivation not to leave it at that is even greater. Their acclimatisation turns into the #cleanerthanbefore campaign: for days on end, Prakash Sherpa and Benedikt pick up the rubbish and haul it down in sacks.

Stones are literally in the way of the actual purpose of their journey – the speed ascent of Himlung Himal (7,126 metres). A recent, massive landslide makes the search for a route onto the glacier leading to the summit extremely difficult. The weather isn’t playing ball either; it’s raining or snowing constantly. Benedikt extends his stay by one final day; it has to work out on this day – or it simply won’t. But they’re in luck: the sky clears! Shortly after midnight, Benedikt and Prakash Sherpa set off in complete darkness. They have set themselves a time frame of 8 hours to reach the summit. After 6 hours and 43 minutes, they have made it and are rewarded with a spectacular view of the Himalayan mountain range stretching hundreds of kilometres before them! The icy wind on the 7,126-metre-high summit urges them to start their descent… After a total of 9 hours and 39 minutes, Benedikt and Prakash Sherpa arrive back at the starting point, exhausted but happy. Just 48 hours later, Benedikt is able to embrace his family in Munich.