International Recognition

Annapurna expedition in 2008 (South Face). From left to right: Alexei Bolotov (Russia), Don Bowie (USA), Iñaki Ochoa de Olza (Spain), Horia Colibasanu (Romania).

---

Photo: Horia Colibasanu personal archive.

Horia has attended 15 international expeditions spanning his career (as of 2013), joining climbing partners from various countries, such as Slovakia, Russia, Spain and Poland.

The tragic Annapurna expedition in 2008 – when Horia lost Iñaki Ochoa, his friend and rope companion – was a turning point in Horia's life.

Elizabeth Hawley, a Himalayan record keeper, recalls. "Horia put his own life at grave risk by staying with his critically ill teammate, Iñaki Ochoa, while he himself was becoming seriously ill from the very high altitude they had reached on the East Ridge. Horia waited while a Swiss climber, Ueli Steck, hurried up the mountain to come to Ochoa's rescue".

Based on that true story, Arena Comunicacion from Spain, in coproduction with Spanish broadcaster TVE, produced the documentary about the climb - "Pura Vida/The Ridge", which became a winner at the San Sebastian International Film Festival.

The climbers who risked their lives for Iñaki received several recognitions:

• Asturia Prince Award, Shortlisted (2008) – for "sacrifice, generosity, team spirit and friendship".


• "Spirit of Mountaineering", Piolets d'Or (2009).


• Horia Colibasanu is the only Romanian mountaineer to receive that recognition, from the British Alpine Club (BAC) - the world's first and most prestigious mountaineering club.


• "Sports Merit" medal from the Government of Navarra (2008). Very few people received this recognition in the long run (Miguel Indurain, who won the Tour de France five times in a row).

Later on, in 2010, Horia returned to Annapurna and succeeded in his attempt to ascend the peak. Horia dedicated the Annapurna achievement to the memory of his deceased friend and teammate.