UKC

Heinrich Harrer died on Saturday aged 93

© Keystone
Austrian mountaineer Heinrich Harrer died on Saturday aged 93. Harrer was the first person to climb the north face of the Eiger in 1938 with Ludwig Vorg, Andreas Heckmair and Fritz Kasparek. His life was portrayed in his book and later the film, "Seven Years in Tibet".

Harrer was caught by the British in northern India in 1939 but escaped and eventually, after an epic journey, made it to Tibet and its capital Lhasa were he stayed until 1951. There he befriended the Dalai Lama where the two struck a lifelong friendship. Harrer spent much of his life helping and supporting the cause of the Tibetan people.

Harrer wrote over 20 books, including the classic, "The White Spider" about the first ascent of the north face of the Eiger and was an outspoken advocate of human rights.

Wherever I live, I shall feel homesick for Tibet. I often think I can still hear the cries of wild geese and cranes and the beating of their wings as they fly over Lhasa in the clear cold moonlight. My heartfelt wish is that my story may create some understanding for a people whose will to live in peace and freedom has won so little sympathy from an indifferent world.

- from Seven Years in Tibet by Heinrich Harrer


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7 Jan, 2006
Sad indeed. The White Spider is a great legacy.
7 Jan, 2006
Dave, which continent are you on, DW need to know if its worth giving you a call ?
7 Jan, 2006
Politics aside (and will we ever learn the truth?), he was a great mountaineer for his time.
7 Jan, 2006
I'm actually at home (for a change). Just spoken to DW. Happy New Year (hope we can meet sometime in 2006). Love to Family Dave
7 Jan, 2006
The White Spider was the first mountaineering book I read. Its definitely been influential in shaping my ambitions. I know a little of the WW2 stuff and not enough to draw a conclusion. The book is deeply touching and his strengths as an individual are undoubted. Time marches on.
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