Thomas Kammerlander (AUT) likes to set exclamation points on the highest mountains in Europe during the summer months. Last year, the reigning world champion in luge on natural track conquered Mont Blanc, with 4807 meters the highest peak on the continent. Now the 32-year-old celebrated the next summit victory - with a prominent climbing partner.

Hiking in the Monte Rosa massif

As is well known, the early bird catches the worm, and so did the illustrious group with Thomas Kammerlander, Gerald Kammerlander (world champion men’s singles natural track 2011/sports director natural track Austrian Luge Federation ÖRV), Andreas Linger (Olympic champion doubles artificial track 2006/2010) and Helmut Ruetz (world champion doubles natural track 1998/General Secretary Austrian Luge Federation ÖRV). They started at 2 a.m. in Umhausen (AUT) at the beginning of August in the direction of Italy. Arriving in the mountain village of Alagna Valsesia in Piedmont, the quartet immediately went up to Capanna Gnifetti (3647m) on the south side of the Monte Rosa massif. After spending the night the next morning beginning at 5.15 a.m., the following peaks were crossed in an eight-hour hike: Vincent Pyramid 4215m, Balmenhorn 4167m, Corno Nero 4321m, Ludwigshöhe 4341m, Parrotspitze 4432m, Signalkuppe 4554m and Zumsteinspitze 4563m in the border area between Italy and Switzerland. "I was already mountaineering in the Monte Rosa area in 2018, when my brother Gerald and I climbed the highest point, the Dufourspitze (4634m). Now we've caught up on the remaining peaks of the mountain massif," explains a visibly cheerful Thomas Kammerlander after the high alpine tour. While the "Kammis" were already on the "roof of Europe" last year, for Linger and Ruez it was the first 4000m peaks.

(from left) Thomas Kammerlander, Andreas Linger, Gerald Kammerlander and in front Helmut Ruez

Finally, they spent the night in the Capanna Regina Margherita at an altitude of 4454 meters before heading back down to Alagna Valsesia after the obligatory cappuccino. The hut, opened in 1893 in honor of Queen Margherita of Savoy, is the highest hut in Europe and also houses the highest weather station in Europe. "I've been climbing 4000m peaks every summer for a number of years, and this tradition has been continued with this wonderful tour. For me, it's also a useful altitude training to prepare for the winter," emphasizes Thomas Kammerlander, who wants to defend his gold medal from the 2021 home World Championships in Umhausen (AUT) in Vatra Dornei (ROU) in February 2023.