Curriculum

born August 13, 1971, in Bad Homburg (Germany); currently living in Lana (Italy) with his family.

Avid trekker and mountaineer since age 10, many classic hikes and climbs in well-known (Mont Blanc, Monte Rosa etc.) and lesser-knowm corners of the Alps

Since 1988 compiling the „Everest Archives“ about the mountaineering history of Everest‘s Tibetan side and the mystery of Mallory & Irvine; probably among the largest private collections about this topic

After finishing high school (1991) and civilian service, study of geology at Johann-Wollfgang-Goethe University, Frankfurt (Germany). Diploma in geology.

March-June 1996 travels in East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Uganda). Self-organized climbs of Mount Kenya (Nelion, 5188 m, and Point Lenana, 4985 m) and Ruwenzori (Margherita, 5109 m, solo). Six weeks work as assisting scientist at University of Zambia, Lusaka.

September 1996-June 1997 fieldwork and research for Diploma thesis in geology (Structural geology of the Remarkables, Western Otago, New Zealand) and work as „visiting scientist“ at the Institute of Geological & Nuclear Sciences, Dunedin.

1999 Co-initiator and member of the „Mallory & Irvine Research Expedition“ to Mount Everest, which discovered the remains of British Himalayan pioneer George Mallory, lost in 1924. Three months work as writer in Seattle, USA.

2001  Co-initiator and member of the second „Mallory & Irvine Research Expedition“ to Mount Everest (aka „Detectives on Everest“), discovery of further traces from the 1924 attempt as well as the earlier British and Chinese expeditions 1922-1975. Two months work as writer in Seattle, USA.

2004 „Nanga Parbat History Research Project“ in connection with German mountaineering filmmaker Gerhard Baur and the American Foundation for International Mountaineering and Research (AFFIMER). Visits of all three sides of the Nanga Parbat massif (Diamir, Raikot, and Rupal), search for traces of early attempts.

2005 move to South Tyrol (Italy).

2006  Co-initiator and member of the Austrian-German Broad Peak/Chogolisa Expedition to the Karakoram (Pakistan) on the trails of Austrian climbing legend Hermann Buhl. Excursions along the Godwin-Austen-Glacier to below Skyang La (Pakistan-China border) and the Abruzzi Glacier to below Conway Saddle (border to Kashmere).

2007-2009 work as writer (books Broad Peak-Traum und Alptraum, Tatort Mount Everest-Der Fall Mallory, and Nanga Parbat-Das Drama 1970 und die Kontroverse).

2010  Co-initiator and co-leader of the Austrian-German „Irvine Search Expedition“ to Mount Everest. Consultant and protagonist for the documentary film „Erster auf dem Everest“ (first screened December 30, 2010, on Austrian Television ORF2); five days of filmwork on the North Col (7070 m). After the expedition work as consultant, scriptwriter and production assistant (interviews and research) for the Austrian production companies preTV and Planetwatch/Gerald Salmina (director of the award-winning documentary „Mount St. Elias“).

2011 Co-initiator and member of the Austrian-German film expedition „The Sherpas‘ Quest“ to Nepal and Tibet. 21 days traverse of the Solu Khumbu region, including climbs of Kala Pattar (5615 m) and Island Peak (6188 m) followed by six weeks expedition to the north side of Everest. Consultant and protagonist for the documentary „The Sherpas‘ Quest“ about the life and history of the sherpas (first screened February 15, 2012, on Austrian Servus TV); 30 days stay at altitudes above 6400 m, including 7 days on the North Col (7070 m). After the expedition work as as consultant, scriptwriter and production assistant (interviews and research) for the Austrian production companies preTV and Planetwatch/Gerald Salmina (director of the award-winning documentary „Mount St. Elias“). Since summer work on a six-part TV series about the great North Faces of the Alps (starring professional climbers Robert Jasper, Roger Schaeli, Robert Steiner, Ueli Steck, Alexander Huber, Hansjörg Auer, Steve House and others).

2012 finalizing work on the six-part TV series about the great North Faces of the Alps, work as directing and editing assistant, scriptwriter and consultant for the parts „Das letzte Wort hat der Berg – Matterhorn-Nordwand“ and „Drei Zinnen – Grenzen der Felskletterei“. Work as writer (book Austria 8000 – Österreichische Alpinisten auf den höchsten Gipfeln der Welt, published January 2013).

In November award „Kamera Alpin in Gold“ for best alpine documentary „Der zerfallene Berg – Petit-Dru-Nordwand“, together with Gerald Salmina (producer), Tom Dauer (director), and Günther Göberl (camera).

2013-2015 work as writer, translator and editor (books Herausforderung 8000er, a history of the 8000-metre peaks in the first decade of the 21st century – published December 2013; Courage, die wahre Geschichte des Bergsteigers Hermann Hoerlin und einer lebensgefährlichen Liebe – published March 2014; Gerfried Göschl-Spuren für die Ewigkeit, published October 2014, und Extreme Eiger, with Peter & Leni Gillman – published summer 2015).

Spring-summer 2013 work as scriptwriting and editing assistant and consultant for „Peter Ressmann – Eine Widmung“ (Servus TV, June 2013)

Spring-summer 2015 work as scriptwriting and editing assistant and consultant for „Matterhorn – Vom Mythos zur Marke“ (Servus TV, July 2015) for the 150th anniversary of the first ascent.

2016 work as translator (books Eiger Extrem-Das Rennen um die Nordwand-Direttissima – published March 2016, und Besser Tiger als Schaf-Alex MacIntyre und die Geburt des Alpinstils im Himalaya – published July 2016).

Summer-autumn work as scriptwriter and director for „Der Ortler – Südtirols König der Berge“ (Servus TV, November 2016), produced by Planetwatch/Gerald Salmina.

November chief of international jury, Bansko Film Fest – International Mountain Film Festival (Bulgaria).

2017-2018 work as researcher, location scout and prop master for the movie „Manaslu – Berg der Seelen. Das Lebensportrait von Hans Kammerlander“ (premiere December 2018) and director of Making Of.

October-November 2017 film expedition to Manaslu, Nepal, as director of Making Of; trek around the Manaslu massif.

Currently working as writer, scriptwriter, consultant, director/directing and production assistant, and lecturer in the field of mountaineering and general mountain-related topics (culture, history and geology).

Director for „Südtirols hoher Norden“ (South Tyrol’s Far North) (Servus TV & Albolina Film Bozen); writer and translator (books Nur der Berg ist mein Boss and Berg steil! with Christoph Hainz – published 2019 and 2022, Passion Eiger with Roger Schäli und Rainer Rettner – published 2020 translation of Winter 8000 by Bernadette McDonald – published 2021).

April-May 2023 Expedition to the Makalu-Barun region of East Nepal, crossing of the Upper Barun Glacier to the Nepal-Tibet border (c. 6160 m).

Since autumn 2023 working as writer/treatment developer for the Austrian production company preTV (see 2011) and as author and translator for AS Verlag (Switzerland).