As she pursued her nursing training in Vienna, Austria, she continued to hone her skills by participating in numerous ski, ice- and rock-climbing tours.

[5] Together with Edurne Pasaban and Nives Meroi she is one of only three women who have climbed the fourteen eight-thousanders.

At that time both downplayed the aspect of a race between them for the first woman to climb all fourteen eight-thousanders.

[7] Kaltenbrunner had previously attempted to climb K2 six times [1] and finally succeeded on 23 August 2011, during her seventh expedition to the mountain.

[8] National Geographic supported the expedition and provided an account of the epic North Pillar climb.