Last month, the renowned Swiss climber Ueli Steck died in a mountaineering accident in Nepal.
Steck, known as the ‘Swiss Machine’ for his fast climbing abilities, was just 40 years old when he passed away. The following is a collection of highlights from the life of this notable athlete.
A Lifetime of Achievement
- A trained carpenter, Steck set his first speed record climbing the North Face of the Eiger in three hours, 54 minutes (2007). He went on to better his own time, ultimately whittling the climb down to two hours, 22 minutes and 50 seconds in 2015.
- In 2008, Steck became the inaugural recipient of the Eiger Award, recognising his many achievements in mountaineering.
- He won the coveted Piolet D’Or in both 2008 and 2014.
- In 2015, Steck climbed all 82 peaks in the European Alps higher than 4,000 metres in just 62 days. The journey was undertaken by foot, bike and paraglider only.
- His many climbs saw Steck frequently faced with death. On one occasion, he fought to save the life of a Spanish climber on Annapurna (2008). On another, he discovered the bodies of Alex Lowe and David Bridges on Shishapangma (2015). The men had been missing and presumed dead since 1999.