Ueli Steck has passed away in a mountaineering accident this Sunday according to Nepal's Tourism Department and confirmed by other news outlets. Steck fell from a slope into a crevasse at 6,600 meters on Mount Neptse. Known as the "Swiss Machine", Steck was acclimatizing himself as he planned to ascend the 8,850-meter Mount Everest and Mount Lhotse next month. He was 40-years-old.
"Quick Day from Basecamp up to 7,000m and back. I love it is such a great place here. I still believe in active acclimatization. This is way more effective than spending nights up in the altitude," Steck wrote on Facebook last Wednesday.
Steck is known for his prolific approach to the mountains and the extreme discipline he brought to his speed ascents. He garnered mainstream attention to mountaineering with his record-setting climbs in the Alps and Yosemite.
His body has been recovered and airlifted to the closest airport in Lukla. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Steck's family, friends, and the great mountaineering community.
About The Author
stash member Jonathan Desabris
Digital Content Producer at TGR. Jackson Hole transplant from the Green Mountain State. Contrary to popular belief I have never lived in New Jersey.