Constantin Lăcătușu

Constantin “Ticu” Lăcătușu (; born 21 February 1961) is a Romanian mountaineer, geologist, and camera operator. He is the first Romanian to reach the summit of Mount Everest (May 17, 1995), Broad Peak, and Cho Oyu.

Biography Lăcătușu was born in Piatra Neamț, Romania, on February 21, 1961. After secondary studies at Petru Rareș High School in Piatra Neamț, he enrolled at the Faculty of Geology and Geophysics of the University of Bucharest, graduating in 1986. He is married to television personality and journalist Irina Păcurariu and has two daughters: Ana Carina (born 20 August 2000) and Iris Petra (born 19 April 2008).

The “Seven Summits” project Lăcătușu is the first and only Romanian to finish the Seven Summits project. He completed (Reinhold Messner’s list (Carstensz list) in 8 years and 166 days.

June 1990: Mount Elbrus (5,642 m). February 4, 1995: Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895 m) - Marangu route May 17, 1995: Mount Everest (8,848 m) - first Romanian ascent, North Col-North ridge-NE ridge route. February 16, 1996: Aconcagua (6,962 m) - normal route. June 4, 1997: Mount McKinley (Denali) (6,194 m) - first Romanian team ascent, West Buttress route (with Cornel Galescu). April 25, 2000: Puncak Jaya (Carstensz Pyramid) (4,884 m) - first Romanian ascent, Messner route (East ridge). December 10, 2001: Vinson Massif (4,897 m) - normal route.

8,000 m+ mountains summited 1992: Broad Peak (8,051 m) - first Romanian 8,000 m ascent. 1995: Mount Everest (8,848 m) - first Romanian ascent, North Col-North ridge-NE ridge route. 2006: Europa Peak (6,403 m) - virgin peak in Tsartse massif (Mukut Himal region), first person to ascent. 2008: Lhotse (8,516 m) - solo ascent, without bottled oxygen, stopped at 8,300 m.

Elsewhere: 1996: Cerro Cuerno (5,462 m) - first Romanian ascent, SW face. 2009: Gunnbjørn Fjeld (3,694 m) - first Romanian ascent; Peak Capuccino (3,256 m); Petra Peak (3,307 m) - first person to ascent, solo; Cone (3,669 m) - first Romanian ascent; Dome (3,683 m) - first Romanian ascent.

Documentary films He made several documentary films based on his mountain expedition: 1996: "Alison Hargreaves - Regina Everestului" ("Alison Hargreaves - Queen of the Everest") 1997: "Alaska - Ultima Frontiera" ("Alaska - The last frontier") 2003: "Țara Șerpașilor - Lumea de dincolo de nori" ("Sherpa Land - The world behind the clouds") (made with Irina Păcurariu)

Awards Sports awards: 1994: “Fair-Play” award by Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee for his role in a rescue attempt in Everest. 1999: "Sportsman of the year" (with Gabriela Szabo) 1998: Grand Prize for “Alaska - Ultima Frontiera” documentary at A.P.T.R. awards. 2004: best ethnographic documentary for "Țara Șerpașilor - Lumea de dincolo de nori" at A.P.T.R. awards.