Newsflash: The following newsflash is a preliminary report posted as a service to our readers. Alpinist has not confirmed the veracity of its contents but will post a story in detail when more information becomes available.–Ed.
“News from Annapurna south face…SUMMIT SUMMIT SUMMIT alone for Ueli!”
Early this morning, a quick SMS message to one of Ueli Steck’s sponsors broke the news that Steck has successfully soloed the notorious South Face of Annapurna (8091m). Steck has attempted the face twice before. In 2007, rockfall sent him for a 300m tumble. He suffered only minor injuries. Steck aborted his 2008 attempt in high avalanche danger and aided in the tragic rescue-turned-body-recovery of Spanish alpinist Inaki Ochoa de Olza.
“To walk through life in a comfortable way is still not my goal,” Steck wrote on his blog one month ago. “This is why I want to try to climb Annapurna a third time.”
While you wait for our full NewsWire, read about Steck’s 2007 fall and his 2008 rescue attempts.