Alex Găvan (born 19 May 1982) is a Romanian mountaineer specializing in Himalayan climbing of 8,000 meter peaks without using supplemental oxygen or sherpa support in his ascents. By now he had successfully climbed seven eight-thousanders .
Since 2006, Găvan runs a special project to climb all 14 eight-thousanders in the world. He is the first Romanian climber to reach the summit of Gasherbrum I, Makalu, and Shishapangma. His other three successful climbs of Cho Oyu, Manaslu, and Broad Peak are second Romanian ascents. In 2006, with the successful ascent of Cho Oyu, he became at 24 years old the youngest Romanian ever to have climbed an eight-thousander and was among the few who freely spoke about the Nangpa La shootings.Romanian Nangpa La report: "Tibetans were hunted like rats" He was awarded with "The 2007 Romanian Sportsman of the Year in High Altitude Mountaineering" by the Romanian Federation of Alpinism and Sport Climbing for the first Romanian ascent of Gasherbrum I.
8,000 m+ mountains summited 2006: Cho Oyu (8,201 m) - second Romanian ascent, without bottled oxygen 2007: Gasherbrum I (8,080 m) – first Romanian ascent, without bottled oxygen, alpine style 2008: Makalu (8,485 m) – first Romanian ascent, without bottled oxygen 2011: Manaslu (8,156 m) – second Romanian ascent, without bottled oxygen 2013: Shishapangma (8,027 m) - first Romanian ascent, without bottled oxygen 2014: Broad Peak (8,047 m) - second Romanian ascent, without bottled oxygen 2019: Gasherbrum II (8,035 m) - third Romanian ascent, without bottled oxygen
Other notable ascents 2004: Chapaeva (6,130 m) 2005: Mont Blanc (4,810 m) – Miage–Bionnassay route
Notes In 2007 and 2008, Găvan attempted Gasherbrum II (8,034 m), but due to bad weather and high avalanche risk, he was forced to retreat, both times, at 7,000 m.
References
External links Alexandru Găvan’s personal website Alex Gavan, Viata ca-n montagne-russe Alex’s short movies on top of Cho Oyu, Gasherbrum I and Makalu