82 peaks over 4000m in 80 days
Source: 82summits.com
Suunto ambassador Ueli Steck, along with his climbing partner Michi Wohlleben are attempting to climb all 82 European peaks above 4000 meters in 80 days. What's impressive (because that isn't enough, cough cough) is that they are doing it all on human or wind power. They'll be utilising obviously climbing, hiking and running, but also mountain bike, road bike and paraglider to link up the different peaks in the Alps. The other aspect that is also notable is that you can follow them step by step via Suunto's Movescount website. Every transition to a different mode of transport is marked and you can see all the details you could want like distance, time, pace,altitude gain or loss and more. You can also follow them on Instagram via the hashtag #82summits.
A sample screen shot of the pairs progress so far. Via Movescount on Suunto.com
Ueli Steck. Source: Uelisteck.ch
Ueli Steck is well known to most as the man to make a record solo climb of the Eiger north face, but in more recent years has turned his attention to fast (and often solo) climbs in the Himalaya. He copped some criticism back in October of 2013 when he set a speed solo record for Annapurna via a new route but without taking a summit photo or logging it on his Suunto Ambit GPS watch. As he's sponsored by a GPS tracking company (Suunto) you can imagine this didn't go down too well. I am not sure of the motivation behind this new #82summits project, I hope it is 'pure' and zen and all those other things climbers like to rattle on about but it does give a good rebuttal to the Annapurna critics.
Michi Wahlleben. Source: 82summits.com
At 25 years of age, Michi Wohlleben is a name worth remembering. At the age of 21 he became one of the youngest certified UIAGM guides and has a list of very impressive first ascents and fast alpine ascents. Notable among the list is a sub 16 hour winter link up of the Tre Crime Northfaces in the Dolomites, Italy, which he climbed with Steck, and first ascents like "Pray for Power” (M14) and "Antro.po.cene“ (Taghia 500m, 8a). The German climber regularly guides clients and with mentors like Steck, has an exciting life ahead for himself.
Ueli Steck's sponsors include - Suunto, Leki, Julbo, Petzl and GoalZero
Michi Wohlleben's sponsors include - Julbo and Petzl
Article Sources -
http://www.82summits.com/de/ http://www.suunto.com/sports/#!/SuuntoClimb
http://www.uelisteck.ch/de/ http://www.michiwohlleben.de/
http://www.planetmountain.com/english/News/shownews1.lasso?l=2&keyid=41667#
http://theadventureblog.blogspot.com.au/2014/03/controversy-over-ueli-stecks-annapurna.html