Janusz Majer a Polish alpinist, himalaist and traveler. He is co-founder and co-owner ADD Company the owner Alpinus brand, co-founder of Mount Company – the owner HiMountain brand which produces outdoor clothing and equipment and co-owner of large chain of HiMountain Chain Shops in Poland. From 23 November 2013 the head of the program "Polish Himalayas", part of which is the program "Polish Winter Himalaism them. Artur Hajzer".
Personal background
When Majer was 17, he finished a rock climbing course in the Jura Krakowsko-Częstochowska and started climbing in the Tatra Mountains. In 1971, he graduated from the department of metallurgy on Cracovian AGH. He is married to Zofia, an AGH graduate. They have one son.
Professional background
Since 1976, Majer has continuously climbed abroad, inter alia in the Himalayas, Hindu Kush and Karakorum. Apart from climbing, he has also been engaged in the organization and logistics of expeditions. Between 1980 and 1992, a president of the Mountaineering Club in Katowice, which gathered the prominent alpinists and himalaists of that times: Jerzy Kukuczka, Krzysztof Wielicki, Ryszard Pawłowski, Artur Hajzer. He frequently organized the Mountain Film Festival in Katowice. Member of many Mountain Film Festival Juries in Poland and in Europe. An author of various articles in climbing press concerning mountain expeditions: Taternik, American Journal, Alpine Journal. A vice-chairman of the Polish Alpine Association between 1987–1993; an honorary member of the Mountaineering Club in Katowice.
Alpine expeditions
1975 – Mont Blanc 4810 m, Alps, France – the conquest of the summit,
1979 – Dunagiri 7066 m, Himalayas, India – the expedition’s participant,
1980 – Peruvian Andes and Yosemite, USA – the leader of the double expedition; in it, the first Polish ascent of The Nose, El Capitan, Yosemite Park –,
1982 – Langtang Lirung 7227 m, Himalayas, Nepal – the leader of the expedition,
1983 – Ganesh II 7118 m, Himalayas, Nepal – the leader of the expedition,
1984 – Broad Peak 8051 m, Karakorum, Pakistan – the leader of the expedition; the summit was reached by Walenty Fiut, Janusz Majer, Ryszard Pawłowski and Krzysztof Wielicki,
1985 – Lhotse 8516 m, Himalayas, Nepal – the leader of the expedition to the south face,
1986 – K2 8611 m, Karakorum, Pakistan – the leader of the expedition – the first ascent through the south buttress called “Magic Line”,
1987 – winter climbing in Scotland,
1987 – Shishapangma, 8013 m, Himalayas, Tibet – a participant in the expedition, Majer participated in week long talks with the Chinese Mountaineering Association to gain permission for the climb to go ahead. The Association noted that this was the first time an expedition from a communist country had been given permission to attempt a climb. Arriving at Base Camp, Majer suffered from severe altitude sickness.
1988 – East Annapurna 8010 m, Himalayas – a participant of the expedition that opened a new route, on the right side of south face – the height reached by J. M 8000,
1989 – Mount Everest 8848 m, Himalayas, the west ridge – a participant of the expedition,
1994 – McKinley, Alaska, USA – the attempt of the ascent,
1998 – Vinson Massif 4892 m, Antarctica – the ascent of the summit; the attempt of the ascent of Acongaqua, Andes, Argentine,
2006 – Gasherbrum II – a participant, the height of 7400 meters was reached,
2008 – Elbrus 5642, Russia – the summit was reached,
2008 – Mayer Kangri, Tibet – the exploration expedition in Mayer Kangri and Jomori Mountains area,
Journeys and trekkings
1976 – truck travel from Nanga Parbat expedition with wife and 9-year-old son from Pakistan, through Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey, Bulgaria, former Yugoslavia, Austria, former Czechoslovakia do Poland
1981 – a family trip with wife and 14-year-old son to India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Nepal. Trekking to the base camp at the foot of Annapurna, Himalayas, Nepal
1997 – the traverse of Biafo and Hispar glaciers, Karakorum, Pakistan
1998 – Mount Everest – trekking in Khumbu and Gokyo area, Himalayas, Nepal
2000 – Spitsbergen, Atomic Mountains, a skitour-trekking expedition from Longyearbearen to Newton Toppen – the highest peak of Spitsbergen
