Carlos Soria, born in Ávila in 1939, has long been regarded as one of the key figures in world mountaineering. Just a day and a half after returning to Madrid, he visited the editorial office to share his impressions of his latest achievement—climbing Manaslu at the age of 86 and a half. This is the eight-thousander where his career began more than fifty years ago, and this ascent has once again drawn the attention of the international community to him.
The ascent of Manaslu (8,163 meters) and the subsequent descent to Camp Three took Soria a full day without a break. At this stage, all the difficulties became apparent: fatigue, problems with nutrition due to a broken dental prosthesis, as well as communication challenges—his hearing aid failed under the extreme temperatures and altitude. Despite these obstacles, he pressed on and saw it through to the end.
According to him, the hardest part was not the ascent but the descent. It demanded his utmost concentration and physical strength, but he completed it in the company of fellow climbers, including Luis Miguel López Soriano, who was filming a documentary about the expedition. For Soria, the village of Sama, at the foot of Manaslu, holds special significance. He calls this place his second home, where friends and locals always await him.
The mountaineer emphasizes that it is important not only to reach the summit, but also to return safely. According to his observations, some athletes lost their lives by forgetting this simple rule. He himself suffered several injuries during the descent and was evacuated by helicopter from the third camp.
During the expedition, Soria lost about six kilograms. This was due not only to physical exertion, but also to being unable to eat properly because of a broken prosthesis and the absence of a hearing aid. The financial costs of the trip exceeded 70,000 euros, with official support amounting to just 18,000 euros from the Autonomous Community of Madrid. Despite widespread recognition from the public and the media, he notes the lack of congratulations from government agencies and sponsors.
In the future, Carlos Soria does not plan any more ascents of eight-thousanders. He intends to continue leading an active life, practicing climbing, running, ice climbing, and spending more time in nature. His main goal is to stay healthy and enjoy his favorite activities as long as possible.
The publication features photographs illustrating the stages of the expedition and the mountaineer’s return home.
