Extreme Skier Karnicar Completes "Seven Summits" Project
Slovenian extreme skier Davor Karnicar has completed his "7 Summits" project, becoming the first person to ski down the highest peaks of all the world's seven continents. Last on his checklist was the 4,897m Mt. Vinson in Antarctica, which he conquered on 28 November.
The 44-year-old Karnicar performed numerous mountaineering exploits, including the non-stop ski descent down Mount Everest in 2000. Being the first man to descend the 8,844m peak on skis, he attracted world-wide attention and helped portray Slovenians as a nation of explorers and extreme athletes.
A year after skiing down the Everest he conquered the 5,894m Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak, and continued his exploits by skiing down the 5,642m Elbrus in 2002.
He conquered Aconcagua (6,962m), the highest peak in Southern America, in 2003, was the psychological turning point for Karnicar.
He continued his quest by conquering Australia's 2,230-metre Mt. Kosciusko, the highest mountain of Australia. The last but one was Mt. Denali, the highest peak in North America, with its 6,193m and extremely bad weather conditions considered to be comparable to the Himalayas.
Karnicar made history by completing his quest on 28 November when he successfully skied down Mt. Vinson in Antarctica.
"It was extremely cold, the weather was unpredictable, but the snow was perfect. Thanks to everyone who supported me," Karnicar said upon arriving to the base camp. He spent his first moments of victory trying to warm up in his sleeping bag because of the extremely low temperatures.
"Not enough time has passed since the descent from Mount Vinson to sum up my feelings, but I am very happy. Primarily because the efforts of people involved with the '7 Summits' project were crowned with success, and also because this can be a reward for all who believed in me," Karnicar said upon completing his 6-year project.
Karnicar plans no new adventures for the time being, preferring instead to bask in the new-found glory.
"First, I need to analyse and sleep on the accomplishment. I would like to prepare a travelogue and am also writing a book. I have many thoughts and ideas, but as we all know, there are many risks involved. I've been trying my luck so far, but the mountains are unpredictable," Karnicar concluded.
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