Fast & Light style: Andreas Steindl
Andreas Steindl is a Swiss mountain climber, ski mountaineer and mountain guide.
How would you explain the Fast & Light philosophy in one sentence?
So the philosophy in one sentence, To go light makes it possible to move faster and to move faster allows us to go further and to do or see more in one day.
Who inspired or mentored you to go in this style?
Ueli Steck and Simon Anthamatten was a big inspiration the first years when I started mountaineering, I learned a lot from Simon. Then with the years a crazy strong guy named Kilian Jornet showed what's possible and it's now the big inspiration for me.
What are the plus and cons for you?
The plus is that you move easier and more comfortable in light equipment. You are faster to pass dangerous zones, what gives you some safety, even if the weather changes you know that you can be fast back. The cons is the speed, so you have to stay all the time very focused specially in the easy terrain where you can move even faster, what means you have to decide very quick about your movements. The other point is the minimalist equipment, that means also if something get wrong then you really in trouble.
What does an ascent in fast & light style make you feel compared to traditional style?
The fast and light style makes the mountain more to a sport. The traditional mountaineering is more about the experience and to enjoy the landscape and the freedom. The fast and light style is the same just with the personal desire to push yourself and to suffer more. For me the best part of it when you are that concentrated and pushing that you forget about everything else. you just in the moment, you and the mountain, a very intense feeling of living and focus, maybe like meditation.
Do you remember the first climb on F&L?
The first fast and light was in 2010 the traverse in the Swiss alps over the 5 Towers of Stockhorn and then over the Bietschhorn back down the valley in about 14,5 hours with a friend.
Your best climb/s in fast & light style?
The best climb not because the time just because the adventure was for me in 2015 from Zermatt over some 4000m peaks to Saas Fee, special over the Täschhorn and Dom, because I can see them every day from my hometown. And finally the Matterhorn up and down from Zermatt, just not as fast as you Kilian but still happy about. And a special day was also to climb all 4 ridges up on the Matterhorn in one Day with Franz (François Cazzanelli).