He made his first expedition to the Andes in 1980 and began climbing the eight-thousanders in 1982 with an ascent of Nanga Parbat. Thirteen years later, in 1995, he climbed the last of them, Kangchenjunga. Loretan took the principles of climbing fast and light in the Alps and applied them to the biggest mountains on Earth.
He embarked on his initial expedition to the Andes in 1980 and started climbing the eight-thousanders in 1982 by ascending Nanga Parbat. Thirteen years later, in 1995, he climbed the final one, Kangchenjunga. Loretan applied the principles of fast and light mountain climbing from the Alps to the largest mountains on Earth.