Anja Blacha is one of the most active German mountaineers. On October 5, she stood on the summit of Cho Oyu, her tenth eight-thousander. In 2024 alone, the 34-year-old has climbed four 8000-meter peaks.
From a mountaineering perspective, Anja Blacha is a late bloomer. The Bielefeld native only discovered mountaineering for herself in her early twenties, but from then on she stepped on the gas even more: the Seven Summits were followed by Broad Peak and K2019 in 2, the second ascent of Everest in 2021, Nanga Parbat and Gasherbrum I and II in 2023. In 2024 she will reach four more eight-thousanders: Makalu, Kangchenjunga, Manaslu and Cho Oyu.
Transparent in terms of style
Of her ten 8000-meter peaks, Anja Blancha climbed nine without bottled oxygen. She only used additional oxygen on the highest peak in the world, which she climbed once from the Nepalese south side and once from the Tibetan north side.
The Zurich resident is also transparent about other types of assistance on the mountain, such as fixed ropes or Sherpa support. In the first few years (Everest, Broad Peak and K2) she always had Sherpas at her side, either personally or as part of a team.
On Nanga Parbat, Gasherbrum I and II and Makalu, support was limited to services in the base camp. She climbed her last eight-thousander, Cho Oyu, together with Ngima Dorchi Sherpa – as required by the new CTMA rules.
Ascending Mount Everest just before the South Col, pictured is Pasang Gelzzen Sherpa. Photo: Anja Blacha 
Descent from Cho You, pictured is Ngima Dorchi Sherpa. Photo: Anja Blacha A mountaineer shortly before the summit of Manaslu, pictured is Martin Zhor. Photo: Anja Blacha Start of the summit climb at over 7300m on Kangchenjunga, in the picture is Pasang Nurbu Sherpa. Photo: Anja Blacha On the way to Camp 3 on Kangchenjunga just below the lower Camp 3, pictured is Nima Rinji Sherpa. Photo: Anja Blacha Descent from Makalu with a view back to the forepeak. Photo: Anja Blacha Descent from Makalu with a view back to the forepeak, in the picture is a climber from Snowy Horizons. Photo: Anja Blacha
Numerous "Firsts"
In the course of her mountaineering career, Anja Blacha has set many records. Some of them are fleeting, such as being the youngest German to climb Mount Everest or the youngest German to climb all Seven Summits. Other titles, however, such as being the first German to climb Kangchenjunga, Gasherbrum I or K2, are titles that no one can take away from her.
In addition to high-altitude mountaineering, Anja Blacha has also developed a passion for polar expeditions over the years. Her first major solo expedition took her to Antarctica in 2020, where she was the first woman to cover the 1381 kilometers from the coast to the South Pole independently. Two more expeditions will follow in 2023, either alone or in pairs.
Live multimedia report in Switzerland
If you want to find out more about the currently most successful German mountaineer and her adventures, you should buy a ticket for one of her upcoming lectures now. From November 15th to 20th, Anja Blacha will be touring Switzerland with her live lecture "My Way to K2".
- Thun Fri 15.11.24 | Burgsaal 19.30 pm
- Cham Sa 16.11.24 | Lorzensaal 19.30
- Zurich Sun 17.11.24 | Spirgarten 17.00:XNUMX pm
- Lucerne Mon 18.11.24 | Verkehrshaus, Filmtheater 19.30 pm
- Winterthur Tue 19.11.24 | gate27 19.30 Uhr
- Bern Wed 20.11.24 | Aula Freies Gymnasium 19.30 pm
That might interest you
- Dawa Yangzum Sherpa is the first Nepalese woman to climb all 14 eight-thousanders
- World record: 18-year-old Nima Rinji Sherpa climbs all 14 eight-thousanders
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Credits: Cover picture Anja Blacha