Climber & Mountaineer Ueli Steck Dies at 40 in Nepal

[Bigtime]

Arguably one of the greatest climbers of all time.

Steck died on 30 April 2017 while acclimatizing for an attempt of the Hornbein route on the West Ridge of Everest without supplemental oxygen.[14] This route had been climbed only a few times, the last of which was in 1991. His plan was to climb the Hornbein Couloir to the summit, then proceed with a traverse to the peak of Lhotse, the world's fourth highest mountain. This combination had not been achieved.[15] During a preparatory climb on Nuptse, a smaller peak near Everest, Steck fell about 1000 m and was killed.

http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/famed-sw...rest-1.3391329

Ueli doing his thing on the Eiger in 2008:

In 2015, Steck decided to climb all 82 peaks in the Alps higher than 4,000 metres travelling between mountains by foot, bike and paraglider only. He completed the feat in 62 days, helping cement his reputation as the "Swiss Machine."

What a freaking machine.

[OMG!WTF!]

His accomplishments are mind boggling. Sadly speed kills. That solo of the Eiger is one for the ages.

[Russic]

Wow... falling 1km. That's got to take a good 15 seconds. Not my preferred way to go, but I suppose if you get into this type of thing you've made peace with that possibility.

[Engine09]

Was not familiar with this guy until now, impressive individual. That video was incredible, thanks for posting it.

[Kybosh]

I have huge respect for alpinists pushing the limits. It shouldn't be shocking when another one dies but it always hits me just the same. These guys are a different breed and I find a lot of them have a "#### you and #### the world" mentality while they're active.

[OMG!WTF!]

Didn't know he chopped a half hour off his 2008 ascent in 2015,,,,

[Baron von Kriterium]

Sad to hear this news.

[You Need a Thneed]

Unfortunately, those who have lifestyles like this have a pretty high chance that the lifestyle will kill them.

[Northendzone]

That video was awesome. I wonder how he funded his lifestyle?

Dumb question though, how did he get down from those peaks, helicopter in some cases?

[OMG!WTF!]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

That video was awesome. I wonder how he funded his lifestyle?

Dumb question though, how did he get down from those peaks, helicopter in some cases?

There's a relatively easy walk down from the Eiger summit. The Eiger north face is extremely difficult but there are other much less challenging routes. On bigger mountains, Steck and most mountaineers descend the same route they climbed. The route is fixed so the ropes are already there. And taking a different decent on an 8000 meter peak could land you in a different country.

Other times in the Alps he's used a super small glider. But the conditions have to be perfect and he can't use it for speed climbs. When he did 82 summits in 60 days in the Alps he used a glider occasionally.

A couple people have wing suited off Everest but I don't think Steck ever had. He'd probably beat them back to base camp by running it anyway.

Steck would have had several sponsors....

http://www.uelisteck.ch/en/sponsors.html

I know the North Face has recently dropped most of their climbing sponsorships due to the extreme risk and the fact that it encouraged lesser climbers to take bigger risks. I don't think he had a lot of money at the end of a year. His money would have come from films, books and speaking at the end of his career.