The silence of the Swiss Alps was shattered this week by the loss of a pioneer who helped define the spirit of modern winter sports in the country. Ueli Kestenholz, a man whose life was inextricably linked to the steep, snow-covered faces of the Bernese Oberland, has died at the age of 50 after being trapped in an avalanche.
Kestenholz was known for his fearless approach to the mountains, but the athlete was caught in a deadly avalanche while riding in the back country near his home. His passing marks the end of an era for a generation of athletes who looked to him as the ultimate multi-sport mountain professional.
