Austrian outfitter Lukas Furtenbach has been dreaming of the Himalayas since childhood, inspired by postcards from his uncle, a doctor on Reinhold Messner’s expeditions. Years later, Furtenbach turned that obsession into a radical business model: running expeditions on the world’s deadliest mountains that are safer, faster, and more successful than ever before.
By fusing modern medicine with cutting-edge technology, he’s built a thriving operation for elite clients—one that relentlessly pushes the limits of what’s possible, and, critics argue, what’s ethical.
In this episode, we talk with Lukas about his career and his vision for a new way to climb Mt. Everest. We explore the uncomfortable tension at the heart of the industry: climbers are drawn by real risk, while operators are tasked with eliminating it.
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