1/10
Let's start with his beloved Tatra. When he was studying geophysics on University of Warsaw, Andrzej Zawada was considering gliding, parachuting and mountaineering. Mountains won! In 1950 his friend from university took him climbing, showed him the ropes and he knew - it was his calling.
2/10
6 "stubborn and brave" were fascinated by great and powerful peaks, which were believed to be unreachable - and then they proved that nothing is impossible.
3/10
The first winter climb on the northern wall l’Aiguille Blanche de Peuterey - according to French media the success of Andrzej Zawada's team was one of the most important climbs that were still left in the Mont Blanc massif.
4/10
On the 26th August 1971 four members of the expedition reached the summit of Kunyang Chhish (7852 m), breaking Polish altitude record. At the time, it was the highest, virgin peak of Himalaya and Karkoram. The expedition didn't use oxygen nor help from porters.
5/10
Winter summiting of Noshaq is one of the greatest achievements of Polish alpinism in Hindu Kush. It also opened a new chapter in the history of alpinism. From that moment on, expeditions on highest mountains in harsh winter conditions began. And Poles were the pioneers.
6/10
Led by Andrzej Zawada, Lhotse expedition was deemed a success, although the team didn't reach the summit. But it was so close… just 250 m.
7/10
All ended well and on the 19th February 1980 everyone celebrated in the Base Camp - as the first to win (through sheer stubbornness) against wintry Mount Everest.
8/10
The winter and spring expeditions could be seen as one, lasting 6 months. But both on paper and in reality those were two expeditions - they needed different permits, two payments for climbing the peak, different liaison officers, etc.
9/10
Polish-Canadian expedition led by Andrzej Zawada. It was a fantastic success and the first time a new route on eight-thousander was established in winter.
10/10
Zawada successfully opened winter season on eight-thousander in the second (after Nepal) country.