CARLOS  PAUNER GOTOR, was born in Jaca (Huesca) in 1964. Surrounded since childhood by the magnificent Pyrenean landscapes, he began his mountaineering activities at the age of 15, and at only 17 he was already scaling significant rock-climbing routes. In the years since then, he has never stopped.

In 1988, Carlos earned a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from the University of Zaragoza and started working as Director of a Quality control laboratory for an important company in Zaragoza. During this period, he made frequent trips to climb in the Alps and the Pyrenees, and also went on his first outing to the Himalayas. In 1995, he made his first ascent of Mount Kun (7,077 m) in India.

From that moment, the outings to the Asian range were frequent, as Carlos fell under the spell of the highest peaks on earth. Also during this period, and taking advantage of the growing concerns with environmental issues, Carlos decided to free-lance in this field and created his own company dedicated to environmental management and the carrying out of related projects. Thus, by managing his own time, he was able to totally commit himself to his climbing career, and dedicated most of it to rock climbing. During this period he travelled to Himalaya several times, reaching the summits of K2, Makalu and the pre-summit of Broad Peak.

In 2002, coinciding with the “International Year of the Mountains”, the Government of Aragon began to act as sponsor of Carlos Pauner’s project of climbing the fourteen mountains over 8,000 meters, without auxiliary oxygen or porter support. Since the autumn of 2002, Carlos has dedicated all his time and effort to this project, and in the spring of 2003 he succeeded in reaching the summit of the third highest mountain in the world, Kangchenjunga,. The complicated, hard and tough ascent of this mountain, and its after-effects, did not deter Carlos from continuing with this project, and in 2004 he climbed two more 8,000ers, Gasherbrum I and Cho Oyu. In 2005 he climbed Nanga Parbat, and in 2007 the Broad peak. So far, this year 2008 he has climbed Dhaulagiri, achieving his 8th summit with an altitude over 8.000 meters.

ACTIVITIES SUMMARY

- Ice / rock climbing and mountaineering instructor for ENAM.
- Member of TVE team “Al filo de lo imposible” for one year.
- 1995. Expedition to Kun (7,077 m) in the Indian Himalaya.
- 1997. Expedition to Kangchenjunga (8,586 m) from the British route to the north face, on the eastern border of Nepal.
- 1997. Expedition to Broad Peak (8,048 m), located in the Karakorum Range in Pakistan.
- 2000. Expedition to Everest (8,848 m) from the north, on the Tibetan side.
- 2000. Filming of documentary “Everest, the hidden face”, for Multicanal-Odisea.
- 2001. Expedition to K2 (8,611 m), from the abruzzi route.
- 2001. Filming for the documentary “K-2, the conquest of the haunted mountain” for Antena 3 Television.
- 2002. Expedition to Makalu (8,465 m), world’s fifth highest mountain, and one of the most prestigious summits.
- Award for the Sportsman of the Year, 2001 in Aragón, from the Sports Press Association.
- 2002. Expedition to Annapurna (8,091m), to the eastern edge from the south side, during autumn.
- 2003. Expedition to Kangchenjunga (8,586 m), new route opened on the south west side.
- 2003. Town crier of the “El Pilar “festivities, Zaragoza.
- 2004. Expedition to the Gasherbrums, in the Pakistani Karakorum, reaching the summit of Gasherbrum I (8,068 m).
- 2004. Expedition to Cho Oyu (8,201 m.), reaching the summit in just 8 days from the date he arrived at base camp.
- 2005. Expedition to the top of the world, Everest (8,848 m.) from the south side.
- 2005. Expedition to Nanga Parbat (8,125 m) from the Kinshofer route on the Diamir side. Summit reached 20th July.
- 2006. Expedition to Dhaulagiri (8,167 m) The White Mountain, reaching 7,800 m.
- 2006. Expedition to Broad Peak (8,047 m) Solo attempt to summit, having to retreat at 7,800 m.
- 2007. Expedition to Broad Peak (8,047 m). Finally, Carlos reached the summit on the 13th of July.
- 2008. Expedition to Dhaulagiri (8,167 m). Reaches the summit the first of May.