He has climbed two 8,000 metre peaks in winter. Makalu in 2009 together with Simone Moro and Gasherbrum II in 2011 together with Cory Richards and again Simone Moro. He has also opened new routes on Cho Oyu, Manaslu and Broad Peak. All together he has 19 ascents of 8,000 metre peaks. He is also a Snow Leopard having summited the five 7,000 metre peaks of the former USSR in only 42 days in 1999. He climbs without additional oxygen.