Vitor Negrete Death: First Brazilian To Summit Everest Without Supplemental Oxygen

Vitor Negrete was born on November 13, 1967, in the city of Sao Paulo. He was a climber and a great enthusiast of mountains. Vitor was adventurous and he loved to take on difficult challenges. From a young age, Vitor showed an unwavering determination to overcome adversity. His brave and fierce nature came as motivation to many in the field of mountaineering. Vitor is mostly renowned for being the first Brazilian to reach the summit of Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen.Growing up in South America, Vitor was fond of the mountains residing there. Since his childhood he explored places, he was searching here and there in order to take on challenges that would capture his interest. He had a humble beginning which many of us can relate to.
Reaching higher heights in mountaineering is not a piece of cake but the story of Vitro Negrete inspires many people to follow their passion and not let their dreams die. Overcoming difficulties, Vitor made it through life and did what he loved. He did not back up in harsh situations. He had an unmatchable spirit, with which he climbed many peaks, leaving an indelible mark on those who aspire to conquer their own summits.
His expeditions are very popular and his works are celebrated by adventurers all over the world. In this article, we will go through the journey of life of Vitor Negrete.
Early Life of Vitro Negrete
Vitor Negerete’s fascination with the mountains began as a young boy, growing up in Brazil’s urban heartland. His adventurous spirit was limitless. He was keen to know about the mountains and so he devoured many books. Dreaming of a life beyond his ordinary life, he set foot into harsh environments to sharpen himself.
He started with climbing small peaks and passes that developed his mountaineering skills from a young age. He was amazed by the fancy gears and heavy stuff of mountaineers. He had the courage in him since then. It became his inspiration to reach out for himself and accomplish his goals.
Vitor was a bright person from his early days and everybody knew he would do good work and remain honest in his work. It was the same for him in studying and it became the same in his mountaineering journey.
In his early days, Vitor was a talented adventure racer. He began this adventure in 2001. It is typically a multidisciplinary team sport involving navigation over an unmarked wilderness course with races extending anywhere from two hours up to two weeks in length. Trekking, mountain biking, and paddling are some of the principal disciplines in adventure racing. Climbing, abseiling, horse riding, skiing, and white water rafting are other multitude of disciplines. Vitor was excellent as an adventure racer.
He was always filled with enthusiasm and so his early career was pretty remarkable. He was getting popular among the locals and racers. People had strong belief that Vitor was going to be a great name, in which they were absolutely correct. He went on to create a huge legacy for himself.
Career of Vitor Negrete
Starting out at a tender age, Vitor started with simple climbs in hills and slowly expanded his range to become a renowned mountaineer and adventurer.
Vitor Negrete knew he was going to have a crazy career and a challenging life. He was sure that his passion would lead him to greater heights in life. Starting out with climbing little peaks and then ascending the great Mount Everest is a great feat. Vitor Negrete was one of a kind.
Being an adventure racer, Vitor was proficient in many tasks and had enough leadership skills. He had amazing endurance and physical strength, huge thanks to his adventure racer practices and disciplines that shaped his career. He started as an adventure racer beginning in 2001.
The Amazon rainforest, also called Amazon jungle or Amazonia is a large tropical rainforest occupying the Amazon basin in northern Southern America. It is one of the most challenging and awe-inspiring environments on the planet. Its dense jungles, treacherous rivers, and unforgiving terrain have failed countless adventurers throughout history. Vitor Negrete was so brave that he crossed this rainforest and did not fail to prove himself in such harsh situations.
He traveled from Sao Paulo state to the southernmost part of Argentina – Tierra del Fuego, Patagonia– on a bicycle. Imagine traveling that much distance on a bicycle. Vitor truly was a great force of strength. He also got recognized for this achievement in some of the local newspapers.
As a researcher of UNICAMP (State University of Campinas) in food engineering, Vitor helped to introduce pre-industrialized food to poor communities in the Vale do Ribeira, south of the state of Sao Paulo. He always wished good for others and tried to help as much as he was capable of.
Vitor Negrete summited Aconcagua in the Andes of South America. It is the highest mountain in the Americas, the highest outside Asia, and the highest in both the Western Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere with a summit elevation of 6,961 meters (22,838 feet). Reaching this peak encouraged him and he became more inclined towards mountaineering.
He set out to climb Mount Everest two times in his life. One was in 2005, and one was in 2006. He is mostly known for his summit in 2006. By this time, he was already being considered as one of the greats of the mountaineering community. Conquering Mount Everest was the peak of his life and that’s where he showed his worth to the world and became a sensation.
Vitor Negrete’s Everest Expeditions

Mount Everest, the tallest peak on Earth, has always captured the imagination of adventurers and mountaineers from around the globe. For Vitor Negrete, a man who embodied determination and resilience, conquering Everest became a dream that he refused to let go.
Vitor Negrete’s first Everest expedition took place in 2005. He summited Everest, using oxygen only after Camp 3. It was a journey that began with dreams and aspirations, but it soon became a powerful testament to human willpower and the pursuit of the impossible.
His ascent was gruelling, with the team battling altitude sickness, unpredictable weather, and the constant threat of avalanches. But his spirit remained unbroken. The team pushed through their limits, fueled by the desire to accomplish their goal. He overcame the situations and finally summited Mount Everest for the first time in his life. It was a dream come true for Vtior. At that moment he thought of nothing but victory. Victory over his fears, victory over challenges, and victory over the great Mount Everest.
This first summit alone was not sufficient for Vitor Negrete. He craved more challenge, more adventure. Mount Everest ignited and awakened that fire in him to never stop and keep going. He wanted more of Mount Everest. The first time was not enough for Vitor.
Vitor planned to summit Everest for the second time. This time he decided to summit Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen. Many people face difficulties while having supplemental oxygen but Vitor was not the one to be scared so easily. He wanted to face that challenge, he wanted to grasp that adrenaline.
And so he stepped up and began his journey to conquer Everest again. He faced formidable problems but the years of skills and conquests came in handy to Victor and his fellow members. They pushed their bodies to the extreme limit, battling altitude sickness, fatigue and bone chilling cold of the high altitude.
On May 18, 2006, Vito Negrete reached the summit of Everest for the second time. With this feat, he became the first Brazilian to reach the summit of Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen. It may seem impossible to others but to him it was another day in his adventurous life. He had surpassed himself and reached a new level in mountaineering. He had accomplished a great feat and given justification to his passion for mountaineering.
Tragic Death of Vitor Negrete
With his Brazilian teammate Rodrigo Raineri, in May 2006, Negrete attempted to climb Mount Everest following the north ridge route without supplemental oxygen. On May 16, they got to know that, while making a summit bid, David Sharp, a fellow Asian Trekking member, had died on the mountain.
On May 17, resting at Base Camp after a failed summit bid, Negrete told Raineri that he was going that day without oxygen and a Sherpa and a sat-phone. He went completely on his own and promised to Rainieri that he would be careful. He screamed for help on the way down from the summit, which he had reached noon by May 18. Ang Dawa Sherpa, his Sherpa guide, went immediately up from Camp 3 and helped him back down. Unfortunately, he couldn’t make it and died soon afterwards.
On May 18, 2006 Vito Negrete died near Camp 3. He was 38 at the time of his death.
Vitor’s death struck a wave of sadness in the mountaineering community and a lot of people mourned for him. His drive for adventure led him to his success and to his death. He was a great inspiration for years to many. Even in his last times he was fighting and working for his passion. Surpassing his own limits, he set out a great message to his community.
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Legacy of Vitor Negrete

Vitor Negrete’s legacy is written in history as a justification for his passion, remarkable achievement, and indomitable spirit. His life’s journey was a resounding affirmation of the extraordinary heights one can reach when fueled by dedication and thirst for adventure.
Vitor’s name will forever hold a special place of honor in the mountaineering community. He serves as a beacon of inspiration, a living embodiment of courage, and a symbol of what can be accomplished against all odds. His love for mountains was palpable, and his pursuit of their lovely heights was relentless. His mountaineering feats were not merely acts of conquest; they were expressions of his connection with nature and his commitment to his dreams.
His legacy extends far beyond his summits and records. His approach to life, his desire, and his intensity, provide a model for aspiring climbers and all those who dare to chase their aspirations. His story acts as a reminder that limits are often self-imposed, and with the right mindset any obstacle can be faced.
In his home country, Vitor Negrete is remembered with profound respect and admiration. Murals dedicated to his memory adorn the streets of his hometown, serving as a visual testament to the impact he made on both his local community and the world at large.
Vitor Negrete’s name will continue to resonate with generations to come, serving as a beacon of hope and proof of the enduring power of the human will.