This man ran up five 4000m peaks in less than 8 hours
Swiss mountain runner Andreas Steindl takes the five peak challenge to another level
© Michael Portmann/ adidas Outdoor
Running 30km, five peaks and over 4,000 vertical kilometres all in 7 hours, 45 minutes, Swiss athlete Andreas Steindl has set a new world record.
Starting in Zermatt and finishing in Saas Fee, the next valley over, Steindl crossed the following five 4,000m+ peaks as part of his feat: Alphubel (4206m / 13799ft), Täschhorn (4491m / 14734ft), Dom (4545m / 14911ft), Lenzspitze (4294m / 14087ft), and Nadelhorn (4327m / 1419). The time of 7 hours and 45 minutes beat his previous best by 77 minutes.
© Michael Portmann/ adidas Outdoor
“Of course I wanted to be faster than last time, but I had the feeling that I wasn’t as fit as I was two years ago.” said Steindl. “I just wanted to do my best, but I never expected such a time. In the beginning I thought my watch was faulty. It was an amazing day for me, I am tired but satisfied and happy. You cannot top such a perfect day in the mountains.”
Steindl grew up in Zermatt, surrounded by 38 four thousand metre high peaks. His father is a mountain guide, his mother a passionate amateur mountaineer. Now 26 years old, Steindl is a ski instructor, mountain guide, carpenter and competitive ski mountaineer. The idea for project developed from watching the mountains surrounding his home.
© Michael Portmann/ adidas Outdoor
“I always see the Taeschhorn and the Dom from my home, two beautiful pyramids that glow in the evening sun”, Andy Steindl explains. “I was eager to climb them. But the descent from the Dom is quite tricky. I wanted to find a safe way down to the valley, since I’m on my own out there. That’s why I chose the route across the five peaks.”
“I hope that I can inspire people at home in their living rooms with the footage of these summits and encourage them to go out and explore the mountains.” says Steindl.
