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brotherbbock
climber
Alta Loma, CA
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Apr 30, 2017 - 09:26am PT
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RIP Ueli....He is a true badass.
Extra points for Mr. Duck being able to bash westerners in an RIP thread.
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Kalimon
Social climber
Ridgway, CO
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Apr 30, 2017 - 09:45am PT
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Goodbye Ueli . . . your infectious enthusiasm for the alpine was extraordinary, the look in your eyes transcendent and your motivation otherworldly.
Best to the family and friends of Ueli Steck.
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Marlow
Sport climber
OSLO
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Apr 30, 2017 - 09:58am PT
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To repeat what F said:
The flame that burns Twice as bright burns half as long. RIP!
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Dapper Dan
Trad climber
Redwood City
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Apr 30, 2017 - 10:08am PT
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Rest easy Ueli, you were admired from afar...
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SteveW
Trad climber
The state of confusion
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Apr 30, 2017 - 10:37am PT
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RIP, Ueli. An inspiration to all. . .
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BASE104
Social climber
An Oil Field
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Apr 30, 2017 - 10:54am PT
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One of the best Alpinists of this generation has died. This is very sad.
As Donini pointed out, and I myself have said here many times, Alpine Climbing, even in the alps, is super dangerous compared to rock climbing.
Today's sport climbers have problems transitioning to "trad" routes that are far below their level, something many of us find baffling. If simple trad routes seem hairy, which we all know is a simple problem of perception (trad climbing isn't dangerous at all) then the danger found in the mountains is in another universe of danger. Sport climbing is at one end of the danger spectrum, and climbing in the big mountains is at the other end. I was amazed at how many close calls I had in Chamonix. I couldn't see how you could do it for your whole life and survive. It was the first place that I made friends who died in just a few months. Then, of course, you have the really huge mountains, which make Chamonix look tame.
When in the mountains, you deal with things such as regular rock falls, calving seracs, and that rock or seracdoesn't care who you are. Ueli's speed solo's of the Eiger blew my mind, because that thing is huge. Almost like 2 El Caps in height. He was obviously tremendously gifted as a pure athlete to solo it in less than 3 hours.
This is very sad, but I still feel that assuming that sort of risk for an entire lifetime is almost impossible to pull off. If anyone could, he was among that small group.
This is a huge loss for all of us, whether we had met him or not. Just knowing that he was out there, doing what he was doing, set a high bar that will be hard to replace in this generation.
I guess that I'm trying to say that he was one of those guys who climbed at such a level that he was more of the next generation of super climbers. A rare bird. Out of time, almost futuristic.
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Mimi
climber
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Apr 30, 2017 - 11:11am PT
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So very sad. He was such an amazing guy. Punch in the gut reading this today.
Steve and I saw him speak last September and hearing him talk about his climbing was so inspiring. So humble and witty. He mentioned doing the Everest-Lhotse entrainment, one of the few remaining prizes. We had every confidence that he would succeed. He packed so much into such a young life.
Sincere condolences to his many friends and loved ones.
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Majid_S
Mountain climber
Karkoekstan, Former USSR
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Apr 30, 2017 - 11:21am PT
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He was one good high speed alpine climber
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Vitaliy M.
Mountain climber
San Francisco
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Apr 30, 2017 - 11:48am PT
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Horrible. Saw his presentation in SF a few years ago and he was a very nice guy. Took photos with anyone who wanted to after, answered questions. Top notch guy in every way. At least appeared that way. RIP.
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E
Ice climber
mogollon rim
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Apr 30, 2017 - 11:56am PT
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f*#k I THOUGHT THAT GUY WOULD LIVE FOREVER
RIP
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Apr 30, 2017 - 12:21pm PT
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hey there say, all...
just saw this, too, elsewhere... :(
prayers and condolences, for his family and loved ones,
at this hard sad time...
:(
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k-man
Gym climber
SCruz
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Apr 30, 2017 - 01:36pm PT
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Word has it he climbed unroped into the clouds, and sprinted beyond.
Rest, if you can, in peace.
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rbord
Boulder climber
atlanta
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Apr 30, 2017 - 02:32pm PT
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Doing what he did in the face of the risks that he faced is both what we admired about him and what killed him. Nicely done!
My condolences to those who grieve.
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steveA
Trad climber
Wolfeboro, NH
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Apr 30, 2017 - 03:16pm PT
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This news su--cks!
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Jan
Mountain climber
Colorado & Nepal
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Apr 30, 2017 - 03:30pm PT
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I just heard about this. Such a loss! I hope this is not a bad omen for another dark season on Everest. The Sherpas who retrieved his body were devastated. RIP.
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Lynne Leichtfuss
Trad climber
Will know soon
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Apr 30, 2017 - 06:14pm PT
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Just viewed a wonderful video on FB by Aaren Adventures who interviewed Ueli as he unveiled his great goal to link up the two climbs which had never been done linked up before. Thanks for posting it Kathy D.
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HighTraverse
Trad climber
Bay Area
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Apr 30, 2017 - 06:17pm PT
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Farewell Ueli. You broke through boundaries. Your climbing skills were astonishing. You lived well. An inspiration to climbers of all skills and aspirations.
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