Ueli Steck facts for kids
Steck in 2012
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Ueli Steck |
| Main discipline | Alpinist |
| Other disciplines | Carpentry |
| Born | 4 October 1976 Langnau im Emmental, Switzerland |
| Died | 30 April 2017 (aged 40) Nuptse, Nepal |
| Nationality | Swiss |
| Career | |
| Starting age | 17 |
Ueli Steck (born October 4, 1976 – died April 30, 2017) was a famous Swiss rock climber and mountaineer. He was known for climbing mountains very fast. People called him "The Swiss Machine" because of his incredible speed and skill.
Ueli was the first person to climb the South Face of Annapurna alone. This was a very difficult climb. He also set amazing speed records on the biggest north faces of the Alps. He won two Piolet d'Or awards, which are like the Oscars for mountaineering. Ueli had already climbed Mount Everest. Sadly, he died in 2017 while preparing for another climb on Everest without extra oxygen.
Contents
Ueli Steck's Amazing Climbing Career
Early Climbing Achievements
Ueli Steck started climbing at a young age. When he was 17, he was already climbing at a very high level. By 18, he had climbed the difficult North Face of the Eiger. He also climbed the Bonatti Pillar in the Mont Blanc massif.
In 2004, Ueli and Stephan Siegrist climbed three big mountains in Switzerland. They climbed the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau in less than 25 hours. This was a huge achievement!
In 2005, Ueli went on an expedition called "Khumbu-Express." He climbed the north wall of Cholatse (6,440 meters) alone. He also climbed the east wall of Taboche (6,505 meters). Because of these climbs, a climbing magazine named him one of the best climbers in Europe.
Setting Speed Records
Ueli Steck became famous for his speed. In 2007, he set a new speed record on the North Face of the Eiger. He climbed it in just 3 hours and 54 minutes. The next year, he broke his own record, climbing it in an even faster 2 hours, 47 minutes, and 33 seconds!
Helping Others on the Mountain
In 2008, while climbing Annapurna, Ueli stopped his own climb. He saw that another climber, Iñaki Ochoa de Olza, was in trouble. Ueli went to help him. Even though medical help was slow, Ueli stayed with the Spanish climber. Sadly, the climber passed away, but Ueli showed great courage and kindness.
Ueli received the Eiger Award in 2008 for his amazing climbing achievements.
Annapurna Solo Climb and Awards
In 2013, Ueli had a disagreement with some local guides while preparing for a climb on Everest. This event made him feel very sad.
However, in October 2013, Ueli achieved one of his most impressive climbs. He climbed the Lafaille route on the South Face of Annapurna all by himself. This was his third try on this route. He took only 28 hours to go from Base Camp to the top and back again. Many people called this "one of the most impressive Himalayan climbs in history." This amazing solo climb won him his second Piolet d'Or award.
More Records and Discoveries
In the winter of 2014-2015, Ueli and Michael Wohlleben climbed the three north faces of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo/Drei Zinnen in 16 hours.
In 2015, Ueli set another incredible goal. He climbed all 82 mountains in the Alps that are higher than 4,000 meters. He did this in just 62 days without using any motorized transport. During this trip, his climbing partner, Martijn Seuren, sadly fell to his death. Ueli paused his tour for a while after this accident. Later that year, Ueli set a new speed record for the North Face of the Eiger again. He climbed it alone in 2 hours, 22 minutes, and 50 seconds.
In 2016, Ueli and his climbing partner, David Göttler, found the bodies of climbers Alex Lowe and David Bridges. They had been lost in an avalanche in 1999 while trying to climb Shishapangma.
Ueli Steck's Life and Passing
Ueli Steck was born in a town called Langnau in Switzerland. He was the third son of a copper smith. When he was a child, he played hockey and went on ski trips with his father. Ueli was trained as a carpenter. As an adult, he lived in Ringgenberg, Switzerland.
Ueli Steck passed away on April 30, 2017. He was preparing for a very difficult climb on Mount Everest. He planned to climb the Hornbein Couloir on the West Ridge of Everest without extra oxygen. His goal was then to cross over to the peak of Lhotse, the world's fourth highest mountain. No one had ever done this combination before.
On April 16, his climbing partner, Tenji Sherpa, got frostbite. This meant Tenji could not climb for a few weeks. Ueli decided to continue exploring and getting used to the high altitude alone. On April 29, he changed his plans and decided to climb the nearby peak of Nuptse instead.
On April 30, Ueli started climbing around 4:30 AM. He was last seen by other climbers partway up the mountain. He fell about 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) from about 300 meters (984 feet) below the summit. No one knows exactly what caused him to fall. His body was found and taken to Kathmandu.
Ueli Steck was a true legend in the world of climbing. He was survived by his wife, Nicole.
Awards Ueli Steck Received
- 2008: Eiger Award for his climbing achievements
- 2009: Piolet d'Or for a new route on Tengkampoche north face with Simon Anthamatten
- 2010: Karl Unterkircher Award for his versatile climbing skills
- 2014: Piolet d'Or for his solo climb of Annapurna south face
- 2015: National Geographic Adventurer of the Year
- 2017: The George Mallory Award - Wasatch Mountain Film Festival
See also
In Spanish: Ueli Steck para niños
- Grade milestones in rock climbing
- History of rock climbing
