Mont Blanc, Ueli Steck raids the Innominata Ridge

The ascent didn’t stem from the desire to set a new record, on the contrary, simply to fully enjoy a beautiful day out in the Alps. Nevertheless though it’s worth taking note of Ueli Steck’s fast climb up Mont Blanc last week.

Making the most of being invited to the Passione Verticale talk in Courmayeur on 17 August, one day earlier the Swiss mountaineer quickly climbed up the Innominata Ridge, the famous spur located between the Freney and Brouillard pillars on the Italian face on Mont Blanc.

Starting from Camping La Sorgente in Val Veny at 05:03, one hour later he reached the Monzino hut where he stopped for 20 minutes to have breakfast. si è fermato per 20 minuti per fare colazione. "After a good coffee at the hut my engine started to run much better" Steck explained, and he then needed a mere 1 hour and 45 minutes to reach the Eccles bivouac at 4041m.

From here he continued on to the summit of Mont Blanc, which he reached after a total time of 5 hours and 30 minutes via the Innominata Ridge. "Still having a great frozen track" the 39-year-old reached the Torino Hut 2 hours and 10 minutes later. All that was needed now was "only a long run back down to the Campground in Val Veny", where he stopped his watch after a total time of 9 hours and 25 minutes. Steck underlined that he had "Just had a great day out in the Mountains.” but it goes without saying, we add, that these are times and means unimaginable even for a good alpinist.

Although it cannot in any way be compared, it is worth recalling that in 2012 Steck’s climbing partner Kilian Jornet Burgada from Spain climbed the Innominata Ridge to the summit of Mont Blanc in 6 hours and 17 minutes. Burgada had set off from the church at Courmayeur and after reaching the summit of Mont Blanc descending the French face to reach the church at Chamonix.