Top Canadian alpinist, Raphael Slawinski, is off to Everest

• Monday 10th August 2020 at 9.38am

March 28^th, 2015

Raphael Slawinski is heading to Everest this summer with two German team-mates to attempt a new route on the North East face. They leave in a couple of weeks and plan to attempt the line in pure alpine style.

Raphael Slawinski on ice. Photo Chris Noble. 

From his Canadian base in Calgary, Raphael Slawinski has amassed an impeccable alpine climbing CV. This was recognised in 2014 when he was the winner of the Piolet D’or as well as being nominated as “Adventurer of the Year” by National Geographic.

Although Raphael has wealth of experience in the mountains this will be the first time he’s targeted an 8,000m peak. "I wanted to experience it, but wanted to experience it on my own terms”.

Raphael Slawinski climbing technical ice on the first ascent of K6 West in 2013. Video grab from Latitude Photography film.

In 2013 Slawinski, climbing with Ian Welsted, successfully summited the previously unclimbed K6 West (7040m) in Pakistan. The trip wasn’t without incident however. Click through here to watch a video of the trip… 

Raphael Slawinski. Photo Chris Noble

When Raphael not climbing he spends his working days at the University of Calgary where he’s a physics professor.  

Follow Raphael via his FB page here. Raphael sponsored by Arc'teryx