#227 The XPeaks Expedition with Chrigel Maurer and Peter Von Känel

A little over a year ago professional mountaineering guide Peter Von Känel had an idea to summit all the 4,000 meter peaks in Switzerland by only using his feet and a paraglider. Then he thought, “let’s go a little bigger and do ALL 82 of the 4,000 meter peaks in the Alps!” Peter had the mountaineering skills and was a very accomplished XC pilot back in the late 90’s, but for this rather audacious undertaking he’d need a partner who knew how to move in the mountains and could get his wing skills up to snuff. Enter his good friend and neighbor Chrigel Maurer. A year later Peter and Chrigel embarked on an epic adventure to link all 4000-meter peaks of the Alps with a continuous track. The style was simple- move only by foot or by paraglider, allowing for the possibility of going back home from a village in case of bad weather, but only by using public transport. The project required a combination of expert paragliding and mountaineering skills, and they carried ultra-lightweight gear to travel in an alpine style. They faced challenges with weather conditions but were often able to fly above the clouds and make unexpected moves. The team dynamics were strong, with each member supporting and motivating the other and relied on their “fun” rule- ‘as long as one person was having fun they would carry on’! They had to carefully manage their resources, including food and rest to maintain energy and make good decisions. The project was a mix of fun, adventure, and improvisation, and they unexpectedly successfully completed their mission in just 51 days. In this amazing talk they share their most elegant and memorable (and sometimes scary) moments, including flying above the clouds and landing on remote summits. They also discuss the importance of risk management and embracing uncertainty. Enjoy!