On April 30, 2017, the sudden death of 40-year-old climbing superstar Ueli Steck sent shockwaves through the adventure world. He’d suffered a fall while climbing Nuptse as part of his bid to pull off a hugely accomplished traverse of Everest and Lhotse. Dubbed “the Swiss Machine”, Steck was undoubtedly one of the greatest mountaineers in the world at the time, renowned for his speed and ability on the Earth’s most fearsome lines.
Steck disliked the Machine nickname, given to him because of his incredible efficiency and the focus he brought to preparing for and carrying out his climbs. However, the nickname also suggests a coldness that, according to those that knew him, couldn’t be further from the truth. Steck was a friendly, thoughtful and warm character, with vulnerabilities just like the rest of us.
