Umberto Balestreri

Date of birth: 13-08-1889

Died: 16-04-1933

Born in Turin he died on Easter Day 1933, falling into a crevasse of the Vedret da Morterasch, in the Bernina range. An internationally known mountaineer, he was nominated chairman of the Italian Academic Alpine Club in 1930 and wrote several articles in the club’s magazine. With Professor Ardito Desio, Balestreri led a reconnaissance expedition to K2 in 1928 and took part in the later expedition in 1929, led by Aimone di Savoia, Duke of Spoleto, aiming to conquer the second highest summit in the world. The Italian Geographical Expedition to the Karakorum was promoted by the Italian Royal Geographical Society.