Fritz Wintersteller (21 October 1927 – 15 September 2018) was an Austrian climber who made the first ascent of Broad Peak together with Hermann Buhl, Kurt Diemberger, and Marcus Schmuck in 1957.

Although never a professional climber, he climbed almost every 4000m-mountain in the Alps, including first ascents of Hochkogel (north face) and Wiesspitze. Three other side summits over 4000m were apparently considered by him to be "not beautiful enough" to climb.

Fritz Wintersteller

In his later years, he made several trips to Alaska for long ski tours and rafting several rivers. As of 2010 he was living in Salzburg, Austria. Due to difficulties with his hips he spent most of his time bicycling.

Fritz Wintersteller

First ascents

Data from

1943

Kleines Fieberhorn, Southeast tower, variant V

Grosses Fieberhorn, South traverse, V-

Bratschenkopf, direct South face, V

1944

Zahringkogel, direct West face, V+

Watzmannfrau, Northwest, left traverse, V+

1945

Hochkogel, Northwest face tower, V

1946

Grosswand, South ridge, 1. descent on skis

1948

Wiesspitze, direct West face, V+

Lehender Kopf, direct West face, V

1955

Falkenstein, Southeast ridge, III

Westbyfijell, South face, III and Southeast ridge, II

Snökuppelen, North face, IV

1957

Broad Peak 8030m, Forepeak on May 29

Broad Peak 8047m on June 9

Skil Brum 7420m on June 19

See also

List of famous Austrians

List of Austrian mountaineers

Eight-thousander

Broad Peak

Skil Brum

Alpine style

List of first ascents

References

External links

Team member of Austrian OEAV Karakoram expedition 1957

Skil Brum on Summitpost.org

1927 births

2018 deaths

Austrian mountain climbers

Sportspeople from Innsbruck

Summiters of Broad Peak

Fritz Wintersteller