The planet's climbing elite has long recognized Iker Pou as a superb climber and mountaineer

A natural on rock, Iker hasn't stopped exploring. His incredible success in the world of climbing has earned him world-wide repute, but as he says, ‘it is essential to never forget about the mountains and the adventures they hold’.

From the Basque Country in Northern Spain, Iker started climbing with his brother Eneko in 1992. Already by this time the brothers had already explored much of the Pyrenees together with their parents. From the beginning it was clear that Iker had an incredible talent for climbing on rock - to the very highest level. His career burgeoned and followed a rapid trajectory; to date, Iker has climbed more than 90 routes between 8c (5.14b) and 9a+ (5.15a) and 8b+ (5.14a) Onsight. But Iker has never limited himself to sport climbing. As for his brother, the values that their parents had instilled mean that the mountains have been a constant reference point to his life, his dreams and his ambitions. As Iker says, he hopes to "enjoy the sport of climbing, but to never cast aside the mountains and their adventures."

Joining forces with his brother, Eneko, in an unparalleled climbing partnership, the two have united their talents and energies to create incredible projects and push new boundaries. With their project to climb together Seven Big Walls on Seven Continents, a dream to climb a significant wall on each of the world’s continent, the brothers explored together the unknown and to the limits of their own endurance.

They have pushed the boundaries of big wall climbing, making what is possibly one of the hardest free-climbs to date with their ambitious project to free-climb the West Face of the Naranjo de Bulnes, a 500m limestone wall leading to the sumit of the Picos de Europa massif in the Spanish Pyrenees. With their idea 'The Hardest of the Alps', a project to free climb three of the most difficult alpine routes within one summer, the brothers succeeded in something never before attempted.

The Pou brothers' passion for climbing has led them to incredible achievements worldwide. They are renowned for their talent and their phenomenal projects only strengthen their reputation as daring and innovative free climbers. Their successes continue to push the worldwide standard, and they truly live the philosophy of The North Face to ‘never stop exploring’.

Birthdate: February 5th, 1977

Home: Vitoria-Gasteiz, Basque Country, Spain

Favourite destination: All the world is a nice place!

Favourite Films: En el nombre del padre.

Favourite food: Rice and Red Bull.

- First free one-day ascent of the famous route "PILAR DEL CANTABRICO" 8a+/500 M. Naranjo de Bulnes (Spain) in 1997 with brother Eneko.

- 2000 second repetition of "ACTION DIRECT", the first 9a in the world.

- 2002 repetition of "SILBERGEIER" 8b+/250M, Ratikon.(Alps) with brother Eneko

- 'Seven Walls - Seven Continents' project, 2003-2007; including El Nino 8b+/850m route on Yosemite’s El Capitan; Zunbeltz 8b+/500m route in Spanish Naranjo de Bulnes; Bravo Les Filles 8b/600m route in Madagascar; Free Route 7b+/65m in Tasmania’s Totem Pole; Eternal Flame 8a/1.100m in Pakistan’s Trango Tower; the Supercanaleta 6c/M6/90º/2.000m route of Fitz Roy in Argentinian Patagonia; and the first ascent of Zerua Peak on the Antarctic Peninsula with a new route Azken Paradisua 7a/M6/90º/760m.

- ORBAYU, summer 2009: Naranjo de Bulnes (2504m), Picos de Europa, Spain. New route in combination with an existing route, first ascent in free climbing, A3 in aided climbing.

- CHANI project, April 2009. The Pou brothers opened 4 new routes in the unknown massif of Chani in the Argentinian Andes: Pachamama 5/1000m. Morro Von Ronsen (5450m), Vitoria-Gasteiz 85°/600m. Aguja Negra (5350m), Gure Etxea 60°/900m. Chani Grande

-THE HARDEST OF THE ALPS project,summer 2010. Free climbed three of the hardest rock climbing routes in the Alps in the same summer:

- Solo per vechi guerreri 8c/150M, Dolomites (Italy).

- Panaroma 8c/550M, Dolomites (Italy).

-Zahir 8b+/350M, Suiza (Alps).

- Demencia Senil 9a+, Margalef, Spain 2010

- LA CLASICA MODERNA 1000M/6c/MD, Mt. Blanc, Alps, August 2011. Opened with Eneko Pou and Herve Barmasse in August 2011.

- TOTEM Project, 8a/250M. Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. 2011. The first free ascent in a day by Eneko & Iker Pou and Ralf Cortes.

- ATAHIO DU DIABLO 8a+/300M,Cristo Corcovado, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil 2011. The first free ascent, by Eneko & Iker Pou and Ralf Cortes.

- Sport climbing up to 9a+ with the first ascent of Nit De Bruixes 9a+, Margalef, Spain 2012

- THE DOOR ca. 650m, proposed 8b, Perfection Valley, Baffin Island 2012. First ascent together with Eneko Pou, Hansjoerg Auer, Ben Lepesant