Author Description

Józef Jerzy Kukuczka, born on 24th March 1948 inKatowice, Poland was an alpineand high-altitudeclimber. His family origin isSilesian Goral. On 18th September 1987, he became the second man afterReinhold Messner to climb all 14 of the world's 8000m peaks; a feat which took him less than 8 years to achieve. He's the only mountaineer who's climbed two 8000ers in onewinter, having scaled four 8000ers in winter, including 3 as first ascents. Along withTadeusz Piotrowski, Kukuczka established a new route onK2inalpine style, named the 'Polish Line', which remains unrepeated.