Romanian mountaineer Horia Colibașanu scales Nanga Parbat, marking his 11th conquest of peaks above 8,000 meters.
**Romanian Mountaineer Horia Colibășanu Summits Nanga Parbat**
Horia Colibășanu, a renowned Romanian mountaineer, has successfully climbed Nanga Parbat, the ninth-highest mountain in the world, on July 4, 2025. This remarkable achievement marks his 11th successful climb of an 8,000-meter peak.
Colibășanu's expedition began on June 6, following his signature alpine style — climbing without supplemental oxygen and without Sherpa support. The 59-year-old mountaineer demonstrated his exceptional skills and endurance by tackling one of the toughest challenges among the 8,000-meter peaks.
The climb was done in alpine style, meaning no fixed ropes from Sherpas, no oxygen bottles, and minimal support, which increases risk and physical demand. The route taken was the Kinshofer route (standard route) on the Diamir face of Nanga Parbat, used by many climbers during the season.
Colibășanu progressively ascended through four camps between 4,800 and 7,100 meters. He spent several days acclimatizing before pushing upward. The climbing conditions were challenging, with poor weather reported around base camp and incomplete fixing of the route during the summit push.
The ascent from Camp 4 to the summit took Colibășanu nine hours. He reached the summit at 7:00 AM on July 4.
Throughout his career, Colibășanu has received international recognition for his mountaineering achievements. He has been awarded the Gold Medal for Sporting Merit from the government of Navarra, the "Spirit of Mountaineering" award from the British Alpine Club, and Romania's highest civilian honor, the National Order "Star of Romania" in the rank of Knight.
Colibășanu is an honorary citizen of Timișoara and Slatina, and his climb of Nanga Parbat is his 26th international expedition. He has successfully climbed four of the world's five most dangerous mountains without oxygen or Sherpa support.
Colibășanu's ascent took about a month from base camp arrival to summit, showcasing considerable strategic planning and adaptation to difficult conditions. His climb of Nanga Parbat is a testament to his unwavering dedication and passion for mountaineering.
Horia Colibășanu, recognizing his ardor for sports, might contemplate a brief respite from his mountaineering endeavors to engage in a game of hockey with fellow explorers. Following his triumphant summit of Nanga Parbat, he could aspire to replicate the thrill of competition found on ice rinks rather than slopes, hoping to exhibit the same determination and skill thatcharacterizes his mountaineering feats.
