Back in China, at the foot of Muztagh Ata.

Twenty years ago, we climbed this mountain as part of a speed ascent, going straight from base camp (4,400 m) to the summit (7,546 m) in 9 hours and 25 minutes – back then with youthful fitness, but less experience.

Today, I’m starting again – this time with much more experience, but less of that youthful power. Whether experience and planning can make up for the raw physical energy of the past remains to be seen. This expedition is more than just a sporting challenge for me. I’m remembering my two friends, Basti Haag and Matthias Robl, with whom I was lucky enough to complete that successful speed ascent in 2005.

I’m looking back on 20 years of speed mountaineering – and looking ahead. And I’m treating myself to this little self-experiment: youth versus 20 years older.

Im Angesicht des Manaslu 

Benedikt Böhm’s Book on Speed Climbing in the Death Zone

Benedikt Böhm’s book “Im Angesicht des Manaslu” was published on 14 April 2014. In it, he reflects on the major avalanche disaster on Manaslu in autumn 2012, in which around forty mountaineers were buried, and describes why he nevertheless stood on the summit of this eight-thousander just one week later. Looking back, he highlights the key moments of his mountaineering career and explains how to balance expeditions, family and work.

In ‘Im Angesicht des Mansalu’, Benedikt Böhm recounts his skiing expedition to the world’s eighth-highest mountain and the avalanche accident of 2012, which fundamentally changed his understanding of risk, responsibility and humility in the high mountains.

Since November 2015, “Im Angesicht des Manaslu” has been available as a National Geographic paperback.

Benedikt Böhm with Christiane Böhm | In the Face of Manaslu, Speed Climbing in the Death Zone | Malik Verlag | 272 pages with 32 pages of colour photographs and a map | hardback with dust jacket | ISBN 978-3-89029-446-9

Book Presentation 2014 – Im Angesicht des Manaslu in Munich

Book presentation: On Tuesday, 6 May 2014, Benedikt Böhm will speak about “Im Angesicht des Manaslu” in Munich.

Time: 7.00 pm.

Venue: SALEWAWORLD, Im Tal 21, 80331 Munich.

Content:

In autumn 2012, one of the worst mountain accidents in the Himalayas occurred: Benedikt Böhm was planning a speed ascent of Manaslu when an avalanche buried several climbers and he rescued survivors from the snow with his bare hands. He has now come to terms with the tragedy in a book and explains why he still reached the summit just a few days later. Looking back, he highlights key moments in his mountaineering career: from conquering his first eight-thousander – Gasherbrum II – and a dramatic struggle for survival on Broad Peak, to his failure on Manaslu five years earlier. He writes about difficult decisions, solitary successes, and friendship and rivalry on the mountain; and describes how expeditions, family and career can be reconciled.

Benedikt Böhm with Christiane Böhm | Facing Manaslu, Speed Climbing in the Death Zone | Malik Verlag | 272 pages with 32 pages of colour photographs and a map | hardback with dust jacket | ISBN 978-3-89029-446-9

Portrait of the Speed-Mountaineer Benedikt Böhm

TV-report on March 30th 2019 in: heimspiel! ∙ hr-Television.

Expedition to Nepal for the need of children in demand.

On September 26, Benedikt Böhm set out on a new expedition, which leads him to Dolpo, in the northwest of Nepal. The goal is the westernmost peak of the elongated Dhaulagiri Himal Gerbirgskette, the 7246 meter high Hiunchuli plaster, also called Dhaulagiri VII. He is considered a rewarding and technically relatively easy to handle ski mountain. Whether the long approach and the general seclusion of the region, the Dhaulagiri VII is not crowded. The normal route is over the north side, with the low-cliff northwest flank suitable for ascent with skis.

As usual, Benedikt will be on the road in speed-ski style, this time to support a privately initiated school project together with the association Nepal-Medical-Careflight. In less than eight hours Böhm wants to conquer the 7246 meter high summit at 4930 meters above sea level in a train from the base camp – and then ski back to the base camp.

Portrait of the Speed-Mountaineer Benedikt Böhm

TV-report on March 30th 2019 in: heimspiel! ∙ hr-Television.

Benedikt Böhm was invited to Bavarian Broadcast BR “WIR in Bayern”.

Benedikt Böhm talks about his expedition “Sea to Summit” on TV-Talkshow “Lanz”.

From sea level up to 5.671 meters above sea level with a distance of 130 km – with one push and under its own power.