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Wanda Rutkiewicz

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Wanda Rutkiewicz (1943-1992) was a Polish mountaineer noted for major ascents in the Himalaya and Karakoram. In 1978 she became the first Polish person and the first European woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest; in 1986 she became the first woman to summit K2. She disappeared in 1992 while attempting Kangchenjunga and is presumed to have died, leaving eight of the world's fourteen mountains above 8,000 meters among her completed ascents.

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What mountains did Wanda Rutkiewicz climb?

Wanda Rutkiewicz was a Polish mountaineer who made major ascents in the Himalaya and Karakoram ranges, including becoming the first woman to summit K2 in 1986. She also became the first Polish person and first European woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest in 1978.

When did Wanda Rutkiewicz become the first woman to summit K2?

Wanda Rutkiewicz became the first woman to summit K2, the world's second-highest mountain, in 1986. This ascent in the Karakoram was one of the most significant achievements in her career of major high-altitude climbs.

What happened to Wanda Rutkiewicz?

Wanda Rutkiewicz disappeared in 1992 while attempting to climb Kangchenjunga near the Nepal–India border. Her body has never been found, and she is presumed to have perished on the mountain.

Was Wanda Rutkiewicz the first woman to climb Mount Everest?

Wanda Rutkiewicz became the first Polish person and the first European woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest in 1978. She was not the first woman overall — that distinction belongs to Junko Tabei of Japan, who summited Everest in 1975.

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