MHW's Ueli Steck Completes 82 Summits Project Ahead of Schedule

MHW’s Ueli Steck Completes 82 Summits Project Ahead of Schedule

The speedclimber spent his summer vacation climbing, biking and paragliding across the Alps

Richmond, Calif. (August 14, 2015) – Mountain Hardwear, creator of performance apparel and equipment that empowers outdoor athletes to live boldly, is thrilled to announce athlete Ueli Steck’s successful completion of his 82 Summits project. Over the summer Ueli took on a summer vacation unlike any other; the speed-climber summited all 82 peaks in the Alps over 4,000 meters just 62 days. He summited his final peak, Barre des Écrins in France, on August 11th, 18 days ahead of schedule.

Ueli set off with from Piz Bernina in Switzerland on June 10, with the goal of using only human power to traverse the Alps’ largest peaks through Italy, France and Switzerland, including cycling, scrambling, paragliding and climbing.

 Ueli said that other than climbing, his favorite mode of transportation was road cycling, “It was so much! Especially going through some iconic roads on the Tour de France.”

“It was one of my best projects ever. I just had so much fun moving all the time,” Ueli said. “Every day was different, I just moved as far as I could. My team had to be very flexible, as many times things didn’t go according plan.”

A number of setbacks threatened to derail Ueli’s progress through out the journey. Climbing partner, Michael Wohlleben, took a hard fall from his paraglider after their fourth summit, ending his #82Summits Journey. Ueli has continued the mission, climbing peaks with his wife, friends and fellow mountaineers. In July, when a climber on a nearby ridge died in a fall, Ueli took time to assist with the recovery effort.

 Despite these challenges, Ueli and his team completed the journey, climbing over 62 vertical miles and biking more than 600 miles total.

To help prepare him for his adventure, the Mountain Hardwear product team worked with Ueli for 18 months to create a kit to take him the distance. Meticulously designed with strategic pockets, ultimate durability and packability, the kit includes baselayers, insulation, shells, a backpack and the lightest test Mountain Hardwear has ever created. This kit will be available to consumers in Spring 2016.

The #82Summits journey can be view via GPS tracking at www.#82summits.com

About Mountain Hardwear:

Mountain Hardwear is a leader in innovative, premium outdoor apparel, equipment and accessories. We celebrate bold ideas, the drive to challenge the edges of our potential, and the joy, friendships and personal growth that come from that endeavor. We work with era-defining athletes to develop lightweight, easy-to-use and incredibly well-crafted outdoor clothing and equipment. Mountain Hardwear, Inc., founded in 1993 and based in Richmond, CA, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Columbia Sportswear Company and distributes its products through specialty outdoor, running, and sporting goods retailers in the United States and 58 countries worldwide. www.mountainhardwear.com

For more information contact JAM Media Collective Julie Atherton at 415.839.7546 or julie@jamcollective.net