Puts that weekend laziness into perspective, doesn’t it? By the time most of us have rolled out of bed, Beni Hug and his French ski mountaineering partner “Tony” have summited and skied three to four four-thousanders in the Aletsch region of Switzerland — and summited by their own two feet no less. Hell… with a midnight start time, they’re already on their way up their first mountain as you’re deciding between vodka or Fireball or tequila for your next-to-next-to-last shot. Try this on for size: as dawn crept in, they were sitting pretty atop their THIRD peak. And what a dawn it was!
Anyway, this is a rather stark contrast to my debate about whether I should do a liquid lunch or wait until happy hour to begin drinking. All that being said, there is no reason to feel poorly. Marathon drinking requires stamina as well.
A different kind of stamina, of course.
Before going back to sleep, have a glance at the map (above) and description (below), both offering a more granular breakdown of the amazing feat — a breakdown that will surely make you feel even better about your own morning thus far.
Mammut Pro Team athlete Beni Hug and French ski mountaineer climbed all seven four-thousander peaks of the Aletsch area on touring skis in only 20 hours. With a total of 7000 altitude meters and a distance of approx. 65 km, Beni and Tony completed their personal records.
On midnight of May 10th, the endurance specialists set out for their speed ascent at the Jungfrau Saddle. The route took them first across the Mönch (4108m) and Jungfrau (4156m) via the Jungfrau Firn and on to Greater Grünhorn (4051m) as well as the Fiescherhorn peaks (4032m/4051m). Finally, they had to climb the highest peak of the Bernese Alps, the Finsteraarhorn (4270m), to eventually end their route via the Grünhorn gap with the region’s second-highest peak, the Aletschhorn (4210m). For «normal» ski mountaineers, every single one of these mountains constitutes a good day’s tour. Tony and Beni conquered a total of 7000 altitude meters in only 20 hours on their touring skis, while crossing a distance of approx. 65 km.
