Tamara Lunger is a dreamer. But unlike many who dream, she did not want to be limited to only living her dream in the world of fantasy. Instead, she decided to make her dreams a reality, and has worked hard to find the opportunities to live them.

Tamara was born and brought up in the South Tirol region of Italy. As the daughter of the renowned Italian ski mountaineer Hansjörg Lunger she has lived all her life in the mountains, so perhaps it was inevitable that mountains would be a huge influence in her life, and become her life passion.

She started ski-mountaineering in 2002 and quickly found her strengths and talents, and achieved some success in many of the classic ski-mountaineering races. In 2007, ice-climbing for only the second time in her life, she made an ascent of the North Face of Ortler (3905m). It was her biggest challenge to that date, and she swore to herself it would be her last time on ice. But just a few days later she knew that she would have to return to the challenges she found in the mountains, and from that moment she knew mountaineering would be her mission in life.

In 2009 Tamara had the opportunity to go for the first time to Nepal on an expedition led by The North Face global athlete Simone Moro. The ultimate objective was Cho Oyu (8201m) in Tibet, but plans were thwarted when the Chinese government closed the border between Nepal and Tibet. Tamara was determined to return to the Himalaya and the following year made her first ascent of an 8000m summit, becoming the youngest woman to climb Lhotse (8516m). She made a second expedition later that year, to Cho Oyu and this time alone. Her first 'solo' attempt ended at 7750m. This expedition was overshadowed by tragedy with the death of a friend. Tamara helped to recover the body and in an effort to move on from this terrible experience she again attempted the summit, but without success. In 2011 Tamara made an expedition to Krygyzstan where she summited Kahn Tengri (7010m) in terrible weather conditions.

Her dream and passion is to return to the Himalaya to summit other 8000m peaks (not only by the 'normal' routes) and also to explore unclimbed mountains. As Tamara's mentor Simone Moro says, "there are no impossible dreams, but we must work to achieve them and make them a reality - when you aim high, you have hard and intense work ahead of you. But this is the best way to feel fully alive." Reaching for her dreams, Tamara is fully alive in every moment …

Birthdate: 06.06.1986

Home: Karneid (Bolzano), Italy

Favourite destination: anywhere in the mountains, but I think South Tyrol (always good to be home again safe)

Favourite mountain: Kanchenjunga, Rosengarten, Drei Zinnen

Favourite Book: my own book of life with all its various facets

Favourite Films: funny films

Favourite Food: my Mum's home cooking (south tirolean food)

Greatest Fear: normally I have no fear, but when I feel it then it is time to turn back

How I Relax: crochet, music

Philosophy: listen to your inner voice and heart

What inspires you? the silence and beauty of nature

Words to live by: happiness and satisfaction

Ski Mountaineering
- 5th position European Championship, 2009. (with Corinne Clos)
- 9th position World Championship, 2008. (with Silvia Cuminetti)
- 3rd position Sellaronda ski marathon, 2008. (with Elisa Fleischmann)
- 1st position Pierra Menta "espoirs" class, 2008. (with Elisa Fleischmann)

Expeditions
- Lhotse (8516m), 2010. Youngest female ascent.
- Cho Oyu to 7750m, 2010.
- Khan Tengri (7010m), 2011, Krygyzstan.