Jordi Corominas: The legend who conquered K2 and the heart of world mountaineering
Jordi Corominas needs no introduction, he has just received the honorary Golden Piolet, an award reserved for titans of mountaineering such as Reinhold Messner or Walter Bonatti. The reason? A life dedicated to the mountains and an approach so pure that it redefines the term "climber". Oh, and in case you were wondering, he is also the first Spaniard to win this award. Yes, Corominas has just entered Olympus.
When our friend JORDITOMS asked if we could share in the Travesia Newsletter the interview I had just done with Jordi Corominas, I couldn't help but say to him "you bastard, but Corominas doesn't even give interviews to Desnivel...", it's well worth accompanying this interview. video Podcast of an article that gives it context in another format. And there we are.
"Footprints in the Mountain with JORDITOMS and JAVIER". is a podcast dedicated to exploring the lives and teachings of influential mountaineers -and I would add, adventurers in general-, through deep and close conversations, above all, that not only entertain but also inspire us. In a relaxed chat, Corominas He shared reflections on his life, his vision of mountaineering and the values that have guided his extraordinary career.
The journey of Corominas, born in Barcelona in 1958 and raised in La Rioja, is as epic as any ascent he has made. His story is not that of someone in search of fame or headlines. It is that of a man who, from a young age, understood that the mountains were much more than a physical challenge; they were a canvas to explore the limits of his humanity.
"...my parents were into mountaineering (...) They were into climbing and they were the first ones to take me with them and show me (...). At first, my father carried me in a rucksack on his back, but when I started to get heavier, they had to invent a kind of stretcher...".
From the Pyrenees to the Alps, via Patagonia and the Himalayas, each of Jordi's expeditions is marked by a minimalist approach and impeccable ethics.
Despite having explored the great mountain ranges of the world, Jordi considers the Pyrenees his spiritual home. "Here I am calm, here I am happy, because this is my garden. I have spent my whole life moving in this environment, I am no longer afraid of it. When I go to Barcelona and I have to enter the city, I say: 'This is crazy'". He also regrets the growing overcrowding on certain routes: "They come here, they see a path, a sign, and they jump in, but it's not like that".
But if there is one milestone that stands out in his career, it is the Magic Line on K2.that route that practically whispers: "This is not for everyone".
The Magic Line is the "Everest" of technical routes, a masterpiece of ice, rock and madness on K2. In 2004, Jordi not only completed the second ascent in pure alpine style, but did so with a self-sufficiency that defies all logic. Few can even imagine what that means. But for Corominas, the essential thing is not the accumulation of victories, but the way in which you achieve them. No sherpas, no fixed ropes, no noise. Just the mountain, you and your instinct.
For him, the mountain is something very personal, which is why he doesn't attach much importance to these awards. Listening to the interview, it is clear that he is not going to change his way of being or his way of life because he gets a Piolet d'Or or not. "What was really valuable was what I learned on K2", what it meant to him to take on that challenge. Beyond the recognition, the experience marked a before and after because it showed "that we were capable of achieving things that seemed unattainable before", as he says.
For Corominas, the mountain is a metaphor for life. Mountaineering is not just about climbing mountains, it is an exercise in self-knowledge. He is clear: the biggest enemy we have up there is ourselves, our vanity and ego. With a purist and self-sufficient style, Corominas is an advocate of the ".alpine style".a minimalist approach that prioritises skill and adaptation over technology.
And who is Jordi Corominas out of the spotlight? Well, that's almost impossible to know, because he has always shied away from the limelight. While other climbers filled conferences and social networks, Jordi climbed in silence, letting his routes speak for him. His influence is unquestionable: many young climbers consider him to be a kind of Zen master, someone who teaches you that you don't need to be the fastest or the highest, just the most authentic.
The Golden Piolet is not just an award, it is a statement. The ceremony, scheduled for December in the Italian Dolomites, will be a tribute to a man who has raised the standard of world mountaineering. This award recognises not only his ascents, but also his ethical legacy. In a world where sponsorship and fame can overshadow the soul of mountain sports, Jordi Corominas stands as a guiding light, reminding us that style matters as much as the summit.
Even figures like Kilian Jornet have paid tribute to Jordi, calling him a crucial inspiration in his career. And if Kilian says it, you know it's true. In an emotional message, Jornet highlighted how Jordi taught him that the mountains are not a place to conquer, but to respect. That respect, that humility, is what has taken him to the top.
Jordi Corominas' story is not just a lesson in mountaineering, it is a lesson in life. In a world where it seems that the important thing is to accumulate achievements, he reminds us that true success lies in how you achieve them. His legacy will live on not only in the mountains, but in the hearts of all of us who, in some way, understand that adventure is a state of being.
"It's like a wheel. In the mountains, we learn from others and then we teach. It is a circle. He wants the new generations to understand that the mountain is more than a sport; it is a place to grow as people.
When asked how he keeps his feet on the ground after so many achievements, he replies with a smile: "... the worst enemy on the mountain is our ego". Humility comes from knowing that the mountain will always be bigger than us. Climbing a mountain is not an achievement, it is a privilege.
