ICE AXE BOLDLY SIGNED BY MOUNTAINEERING LEGENDS SIR EDMUND HILLARY, REINHOLD MESSNER, KURT DIEMBERGER, FRED BECKEY, BARRY BLANCHARD, THOMAS HORNBEIN, AND DOUG SCOTT

HILLARY, Edmund, DIEMBERGER, Kurt, MESSNER, Reinhold, et al. Ice Axe Signed. Austria: Stubai, circa 1940. Wood and steel shaft measures 35 inches; steel blade measures inches. $4600.

Authentic vintage ice axe boldly signed at a later date in black ink on the wooden shaft by seven mountaineering legends: Sir Edmund Hillary, Reinhold Messner, Kurt Diemberger, Fred Beckey, Barry Blancard, Thomas Hornbein, and Doug Scott.

The seven signatures gathered here commemorate some of the most thrilling and challenging mountaineering adventures to date. In 1953, Sir Edmund Hillary, with Tenzing Norgay, established his reputation as the first to climb Mount Everest, the world's highest peak. Although he ascended Everest only once after the initial summit, Hillary had a profound influence on the Everest area, returning each year to work among the Sherpa people. Reinhold Messner, the world's greatest Himalayan climber, was the first person to ascend the world's fourteen 8000 meter peaks, all without oxygen and many solo. Messner also was the first to climb Everest solo and without oxygen. Austrian Kurt Diemberger climbed six 8000-meter peaks, including Everest and K2, and made first ascents on two of them: Broad Peak near K2 and Dhaulagiri near Annapurna. Doug Scott is perhaps most famous for being the first to ascend the South-West Face of Everest, in 1975, and was also the first Briton to climb Everest. American Fred Beckey is noted for his ascents of the North Cascades and several Alaskan peaks. American Tom Hornbein was one of a team of climbers to first summit Everest via the West Ridge. Canadian Barry Blanchard's notable firsts include ascending the Andromeda Strain on Mt. Andromeda in Canada, the first alpine ascent of the North Ridge of Rakaposhi in Pakistan, and the North Face of Kusum Kanguru in Nepal. Hillary was a prolific author, and Messner and Diemberger are also writers, documenting their many mountaineering experiences in several popular, first-hand accounts.

Expected wear and light rust from age and use. Fine condition, an exceptional item.