Major Ascents

“What they did has to be considered among the two or three most difficult big-wall Himalayan climbs ever done.”

Dougald Mcdonald

Past editor-in-chief of Rock and Ice magazine, quoted in Men’s Journal, Sept., 1998, after the first ascent of Changabang’s North Face Direct.

"His climbing career is the one by which I judge all others. His achievements are unparalleled in American climbing, and probably in world climbing."

Damien Gildea

Author of Mountaineering in Antarctica and leader of seven successful expeditions to the remote and little explored ranges of the Antarctic Continent

"The American climber Carlos Buhler is one of the world's most successful expeditioners. Over the last 25 years he has been at the forefront of exploratory mountaineering, with many first ascents in Peru, Alaska and the Himalaya. High altitude successes include alpine ascents of K2 North Ridge with the Russians, Kangchenjunga North Face with Peter Habeler and the first ascent of Everest's Kangshung Face. However, it is on the more elegant, 6000ers and 7000ers that he has really made his mark, most notably on Changabang's North Face Direct and, this year, the first ascent of Sepu Kangri"

Stephen Venables

Spokesman for the Alpine Club, Great Britain, quoted in preparation for Carlos’s lecture to the Alpine Club, in London, Nov, 2003

"Buhler is “arguably" the best American Himalayan climber there is. Nobody has had such a long and distinguished career as he has"

Dr. Louis F. Reichardt

Former President of the American Alpine Club and neurobiologist at the University of California, San Francisco, quoted in the November, 2002, Bozeman Chronicle story after Carlos’s first ascent of Tibet’s Sepu Kangri

“He has spent the last quarter century amassing a record of ascents and attempts that rivals anyone, anywhere. A vigorous proponent and practitioner of the small and self-sufficient expedition, Buhler has pushed the edge of the alpinism envelope as aggressively as any climber in the world…”

2003 Mountainfilm

Telluride, Colorado's annual international festival of mountain film, art and ideas to promote a better world

The parallels were immediately drawn between the critical success factors that lead to a successful summit and those that lead to a successful company. The one item that is key to both, which was very well delivered by you, is individual commitment. It was very apparent that commitment differentiated your group from previous Everest expeditions, and that with full group commitment, in conjunction with a well put together plan, most anything can be accomplished.

Bernie W. Stewart

President, Western Oceanic, Inc., Houston, Texas

You give new definition to excellence—both in your personal accomplishments as well as in your skill in sharing your story on stage.  You have our respect, and our deep appreciation.

Peter Yaremko

Manager, Publication and Events, Rolm Corporation Santa Clara, California

“He is a leader in converting the sport of alpine climbing from an assault mentality to one of group centered, strategic planning; mutual respect between climbers and sherpas; use of high tech gear; and best environmental practices.”

Ted Mischaikov

Member of the Western Washington University Foundation Board of Directors and President and COO of the Trillium Corporation, quoted in Windows on Western, News for Alumni and Friends of Western Washington University, spring 2003

"My personal highlight was definitely the ascent of Kangchenjunga in Alpine style with Carlos Buhler and Martin Zabaleta in 1988...We were lucky to survive."

Peter Habeler

Austrian mountaineer who, together with R. Messner, made the first oxygenless ascent of Mt. Everest in 1978.