4. Italian Mountaineer Becomes First To Climb “Second Seven Summits”
At first glance, one wouldn’t think that summiting the 4851-meter (15,916 ft) Mt. Tyree, located in Antarctica, would make a list of the most impressive climbs of 2012. But when Italian climber Hans Kammerlander did it last January he also completed his quest to climb the “Second Seven Summits” – the second tallest mountains on each of the seven continents. For years, climbing the Seven Summits has been a badge of honor amongst climbers, but it turns out the Second Seven are even more challenging to complete. The list includes Mt. Kenya (Africa, 17,057'), K2 (Asia, 28,251'), Dykh-Tau (Europe, 17,076'), Mt. Logan (North America, 19,550'), Ojos del Salado (South America, 22,614'), Puncak Trikora (Australasia, 15,617'), and Mt. Tyree. Kammerlander became the first to accomplish the feat, earning his spot in mountaineering history in the process.
-- Kraig Becker
Image: Hans Kammerlander on the summit of Mt. Tyree, Antarctica. (Credit: Hans Kammerlander)