For example, the 8,000 meter summit of Annapurnahas a 40% death rate, but that was a cake walk to him. He was the also the first man to scale all 14 mountains over 26,000 feet. Early in his career, he became the first man to scale the ice covered face of Nanga Parbat, where he unfortunately lost his brother and 7 toes.
While he was the first man to ever scale that mountain face, he alos was the first to do it solo and then even went back to gather his brother's remains!
He is a true pioneer of the mountaineering world, most famous for being the first to climb Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen. The "Death Zone" (where there is so little oxygen the human body loses all it's strength and chance of brain damage occurs) sits at 8,000 metres, but he plowed through and up another 850 mto the top of the mountain anyways!
Apparently, he would collapse every 10 to 15 feet, wake up during his sleep gasping for air! He perservered and managed to survive, which baffled scientists, forcing them to readjust their idea on what the human body can handle. And remember, he only had 3 toes.
He hasn't just climbed mountains, either. He has also walked across deserts, across the Antarctic, and even spent 12 years investigating Yetis! He heard the call of the wild and has shown the endurance a person can possess.
He currently lives in a 13th century Italian castle on a hilltop (yes, a castle, just to be more badass) with his wife and kids.
