Andrzej Heinrich

Zygmunt Andrzej Heinrich (21 July 1937 in Łbowo, central Poland – 27 May 1989 on Mount Everest) was a Polish mountaineer who made several ascents of eight-thousanders. He died in an avalanche on the northwest slopes of Mount Everest in 1989.

Achievements

Tatra Mts and Alps Zygmunt Andrzej Heinrich completed several technical climbs, including new routes and first winter ascents. He frequently climbed with Eugeniusz Chrobak; the pair is noted in Polish mountaineering history for their technical contributions to Himalayan climbing.

Great Ranges 1971 – Kunyang Chhish (7852 m) – first ascent to the summit (along with Andrzej Zawada, and ). 1974 – Lhotse (8250 m) in winter with Andrzej Zawada, reaching a height of 8,250 meters (27,070 feet), the first time anyone had gone above 8000 m in winter. 1978 – Kanchenjunga Central (8482 m), first ascent – together with Wojciech Brański, Kazimierz Olech. 1979 – Lhotse (8516 m), 4 October, ascent together with Andrzej Czok, Jerzy Kukuczka and Janusz Skorek. 1981 – Masherbrum, SW Peak (7806 m), first ascent, with Marek Malatyński and Przemysław Nowacki. On the descent Malatyński and Nowacki both died during an enforced and exposed bivouac but Heinrich survived and managed to descend to base camp despite taking a fall of 650 to 1000 feet down ice-cliffs. 1985 – Cho Oyu (8201 m), winter expedition, new route via SE Pillar, ascent with Jerzy Kukuczka (15 February, three days after the first winter ascent by the team of the same expedition, Maciej Berbeka and Maciej Pawlikowski). 1985 – Nanga Parbat (8126 m), first ascent of the NE buttress, on the summit together with Jerzy Kukuczka, Carlos Carsolio and Sławomir Łobodziński.