Karl Prusik

Karl Prusik (1896 to 1961) was an Austrian mountaineer, born in Vienna on 19 May 1896, who twice served as President of the Austrian Alpine Club and is credited with establishing over 70 ascents and routes. He is also recognised as the inventor of the Prusik knot. In 1947 he became the first Vice President of the Österreichischer Alpenklub. Prusik Peak in the Cascade Range of Washington state is named in his honour, and a route in the Slovenian Alps carries the name of Prusik and his climbing partner Roman Szalay. He served as a lieutenant in the German Wehrmacht from 1941 and was promoted to captain in 1942, and he died in Perchtoldsdorf, Austria, on 8 May 1961.