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Ranking in 7summits list, either CP or K | : | 86 |
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Ranking in Carstensz Pyramid list | : | 65 |
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Ranking in Kosciuszko list | : | 58 |
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First name | : | Jaime |
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Family name | : | Vinals |
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Gender | : | male |
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Country of origin | : | Guatemala |
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Date of Birth | : | 1961-11-17 |
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Name of first summit | : | Aconcagua |
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Date of climbing the first summit | : | 1995-01-17 |
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Name of final summit in Carstensz list | : | Everest |
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Date of final summit in Carstensz list | : | 2001-05-23 |
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Name of final summit in Kosciuszko list | : | Everest |
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Date of final summit in Kosciuszko list | : | 2001-05-23 |
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Date of climbing Kilimanjaro | : | 1997-11-15 |
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Date of climbing Elbrus | : | 1998-07-20 |
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Date of climbing Aconcagua | : | 1995-01-17 |
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Date of climbing Denali | : | 1995-07-08 |
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Date of climbing Vinson | : | 2000-09-12 |
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Date of climbing Everest | : | 2001-05-23 |
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Date of climbing Carstensz Pyramid | : | 1999-10-26 |
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Date of climbing Kosciuszko | : | 1999-10-12 |
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Climbed Carstensz Pyramid? | : | Yes |
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Climbed Kosciuszko? | : | Yes |
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Total time including Carstensz Pyramid | : | 06y,126d |
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Total time including Kosciuszko | : | 06y,126d |
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Age when finished with CP | : | 39y,187d |
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Age when finished with K | : | 39y,187d |
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Website | : | http://jaimevinals.com |
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Additional Info | : | Jaime Viñals started to climb at 1988 in his country Guatemala, since then he has climbed more than 300 different mountains in 42 countries, including all South America, Alps in Europe, Baffin Island, Canada, Greenland, Himalayan Range in Tibet and Nepal, Africa, Carribean countries and many more places around the world.
He is the only Centralamerican climber who has reached the summit of Mt. Everest and the Seven Summits, and is only the third latinamerican to do it.
He has published three different books and one video-documentary about his experiencies on mountaineering and climbing the 7 summits.
Exclusive 7summits.com Interview!
Jaime visited us spring 2003; besides some sightseeing (including 'climbing' the highest point in the Netherlands ;) he also told me about what really happened on Everest 2001, when he had to spend a night above the 2nd step. Here are his own words:
- When did you decide to climb the 7summits and why?
I decided to climb the 7 summits, right at moment I knew about this challenge, which was around 1994.
Because I thought at this time that would be a great way to see the world and also to know myself climbing this great mountains.
-What were the reactions of your family and friends, country?
At the beginning, everybody said that I was crazy, especially because there are no big mountains or glaciers or snow or ice in any place in my country, even there is no tradition at all in mountaineering.
Everything about sports in my country goes around football soccer, so nobody understood that at the beginning.
-What was the best trip of the 7? Why?
Every trip was very special and different, I would not be able to say this was better than that, all were very special for me. Because I climbed every mountain with different climbers, it was a different environment every time. It is like you ask a mother which one of her four children is better, the answer would everyone is special in some ways and others.
-What tips can you give other climbers who want to climb the 7summits?
First of all, be patient with every mountain you want to climb, the weather can change at any time, as always in your life: think first.
Every step you do for this goal, always will pay off. Be patient and determined all the time, it is possible to make it, doesn’t matter how hard looks... it is possible if you truly want to do it.
Everest:
-You spend a night out high on Everest, this was documented on the video Found on Everest. Many different stories have been told about this event. Can you tell me what exactly happened those few days?
Yes, indeed. I did spend a night out on Everest at 8,725 meters above sea level, right in the “third step” together with Andy Lakpass from United States, because we had some problems with our oxygen bottles and this cause us problems with our sight. I don’t care about different stories about this event, the only story that is valid is that we are alive and safe after this very hard night we had. It was a very difficult experience, but together with Andy we stayed awake all night long and fight to be alive, and we got success on it.
Hours before this situation, we were climbing to the summit together with our teammate Owen West from United States, who got some problems (possible cerebral edema symptoms) so we helped him about an hour, before continuing our own summit attempt without him, so this situation delays us to get to the summit together with the rest of the team, but Owen is safe and sound which is more important, and the extra bonus for use was reaching the summit of course.
-Is there anything you would like to say about this? Or to someone in specific?
Well, I think everyone is free to think whatever they want, but only the persons who are involved at any situation or experience are the ones who can say something about it. The most important thing in anyone’s life is how do you feel after doing something, it doesn’t matter what the neighbor thinks about it.
I did climbed and finished successfully the 7 summits, even all the people in my country who thought at the beginning I was crazy or insane, and now they think I am a hero. Never do something because the people around you “thinks” is right or not, just do it if YOU feel fine and good doing it.
Finally I want to congratulate you for such a great web site about the 7 summits, please keep going ahead on it.
- :) thanks!
After 7summits:
- What are your current activities?
I do motivational speeches for schools, universities, big companies, small companies, ONG’s, or anybody who needs it either in Guatemala or any other country.
Besides that, I have been writing three books, one is called “La montaña es mi destino” which means “The mountain is my destiny”, another one about my expedition for reach the summit of Mt. Everest which is called “Everest... asi conquiste su cima” which means “Everest... that is the way I reached it’s summit” and the last one is about 7 summits and is called “La conquista de Siete Retos” which means “The conquer of Seven Challenges”.
Also I am producing a video-documentary about Everest. And of course I am still climbing, now I am working to reach the highest summits of the seven largest islands in the world, I have already climbed five of them (18/May/2003) two weeks from now I will be at Greenland climbing the number sixth. I hope to finish it at the year 2004. This challenge is known in the world like “The Seven Islands of the World”.
- What are your future plans?
I do have many different plans for climbing and not for climbing. In our lives we should be always dreaming and thinking for new goals, this is the key to keep everybody happy and young.
Thank you Jaime, for this interview and your inspiration.
Jaime can be booked for motivational speeches (including slides and movies) all over the world either in English or Spanish.
For bookings, quotes etc, please email speakers @ 7summits.com with your details: venue, size, date etc. |
