Mountains are not meant to be conquered. They are for us to conquer ourselves. These words belong to the American writer Henry Thoreau, and they best reflect the point of view of those who cannot live without peaks. Ukrainian entrepreneur and avid climber Ihor Kushnir believes so.

In the late 80s, Ihor Kushnir climbed Kazbek, which launched his mountaineering career. At first, the mountains were perceived as a hobby, but with each new peak, he felt that it was forever. According to Ihor Kushnir, the mountains teach you to understand yourself, trust those around you, give you a sense of freedom and help you free your thoughts.

Ihor Kushnir's first serious mountain was the seven-thousander Khan Tengri, which he climbed as part of the Snow Leopard program.  In 2007, while preparing to climb the world's sixth highest peak, Cho Oyu, he climbed Kilimanjaro. A few months later, he conquered the “eight-thousander”. Two years later, Ihor Kushnir climbed to the highest point in South America, Aconcagua (6962 meters). At the same time, in 2009, he also climbed one of the highest peaks of the Pamirs, Ozodi Peak. By the way, Ihor Kushnir also climbed this mountain for the second time in 2021. As part of the Seven Summits program, Ihor Kushnir also climbed Elbrus (5642 m) and Mont Blanc (4807 m). He also climbed the seven-thousand meter peak Abu Ali ibn Sina, also known as Lenin Peak.

Striving for more and improving his mountaineering skills, after conquering the “seven thousanders”, Ihor Kushnir began to climb more difficult peaks more often. The highest mountain in the world, Everest, which is the dream of every climber in the world, was conquered by Igor Kushnir in 2023. He climbed the mountain together with his wife. The climber says the climb was difficult, but it was worth it. The couple became the 34th and 35th Ukrainian climbers to climb the “roof of the world”. Ihor Kushnir's wife, Oksana, is the 7th Ukrainian woman to climb Everest.

Exactly one year after climbing Everest, Igor Kushnir climbed the fourth highest mountain in the world - 8516 meters. - Lhotse. As part of the “Eight-thousanders” program, last year he also climbed Manaslu. This is the eighth highest peak in the world, and among climbers it is rightfully considered one of the most technically challenging.