Mountain Hardwear

Ethan Pringle

In the last few years I have taken my climbing to ever-higher levels in the disciplines of sport climbing and bouldering. I have fulfilled many long-term goals of mine: tie or beat Sharma in a comp (not really), climb V14 and on-sight 5.14, and climb the enigmatic Realization. My goals are to keep raising the bar for hard climbing, podium at a world cup, become a better surfer, live a eco-friendly life, go to college, cherish my family, friends, and animals, keep traveling, and enjoy new experiences.

Highlights

• 1st Unified Bouldering Championships, Nor'easter 2010
• 2nd HP40 Triple Crown; Horse Pens, Al, 2005
• 2nd ABS Nationals; Boulder, CO, 2006
• United States Climbing Team Member, 1998-present

• Necessary Evil, 5.14c, VRG, Arizona
• Let the Love Die, 5.14b, Black and Tan, Utah
• Wall of Glass Extension, 5.14c (first ascent), Mt. Clark, California
• Realization, 9a+/5.15a, Ceuse, France

• Circadian Rhythm, V13 (under 10 tries), Kingpin, V11/12 (flash, Same day), Poudre Canyon, Co
• Bully, V11, Triple Threat Arete, V10 (both flashed), Birds Nest, V11r (same day), Lower Cottonwood Canyon, Ut
• Eclipse, V12/13 (2nd ascent), Prime Rib, V10, Red Letter Day, V10 (same day) LCC, Utah

Catch up with Ethan on EthanPringle.com

Freddie Wilkinson

Freddie Wilkinson believes that a climbing adventure is only as good as the stories you bring home. Wilkinson grew up in the flatlands of suburban Connecticut and climbed his first mountain New Hampshires Mount Washington at age thirteen. By age 20, Wilkinson had climbed Denali via the Cassin Ridge and Nepals Cholatse via the West Rib. Since then, he has spent three to four months of every year on expeditions around the globe. In between traveling, Wilkinson earned a degree in history from Dartmouth College and worked as a climbing guide in New England and Alaska. In 2007, Wilkinson established new routes on three different mountains on three different continents: Patagonias Cerro Poincinot, The Fin in Alaska, and Mount Mahindra in the Indian Himalaya. Thats pretty good but Wilkinson still considers himself to be better at telling stories than he is a climbing mountains. He lives in Madison New Hampshire with his fianc Janet Bergman in a 12 x 12 cabin with a view of the White Mountains.

In August 2010, Freddie published his first book, "One Mountain Thousand Summits: The Untold Story of Tragedy and True Heroism on K2". An insider's account of one of the deadliest and most controversial tragedies in mountaineering histroy-the 2008 K2 disaster.

• First ascents on Peak 5960 and Mount Mahindra, both in the Miyar Valley, India
• New routes on Cerro Poincinot, Torre Innominata and Desmochada in Patagonia
• Ascents of the Diamond Arte on Mount Hunter, Snow Patrol on Mount Dickey, and The Cassin Ridge on Denali
• A dozen El Cap routes
• Onsights up to 5.12b and M8+
• 2008 Climbed the North faces of Fitzroy, Mount Hunter, and Kangtega
• 2008 First ascents on Peak 5960 and Mount Mahindra, both in the Miyar Valley, India

Catch up with Freddie on TheNamelessCreature.com/

James Helm

I grew up skiing in Rossland, BC and now call Whistler my home. After ski racing until age 12, freeskiing occupied my weekends and any chance I could get out there to the point of skipping school. My friends and I started creating ski videos for school projects and since then my goal was to become a professional freeskier and work with companies like MSP. I started with Big Mountain competitions and with good results on the IFSA tour, I acquired sponsors and a little bit of money to film in and around Whistler with Theory-3 Media. Continuing to compete and film my sponsors became greater and all of a sudden I had the opportunity to film with Matchstick in 2007. Since then I have dedicated my seasons to creating great Matchstick segments and shooting as many photos as possible. My passion is being out in the mountains, exploring new zones and skiing as many new lines as possible.

Shred journal of James Heim, jamesheim.com.

Janet Bergman

30-year-old New Hampshire-based climber, Janet Bergman finds inspiration from long alpine rock climbing in the mountains and first ascents. Her first love is bouldering, but the appeal of mountain travel, added to the seasonality of life in the northeast, makes her well rounded in the vertical realm. A self-proclaimed sissy, Janet says she enjoys the boldness that mountain climbing demands, whether on a one-day ascent of El Capitan in Yosemite or a first ascent in the Indian Himalaya.

She works as a consultant to nonprofit organizations, helping clients like Kismet Rock Foundation, an educational rock climbing program for New England youth, to expand their reach. Janet, her fianc Freddie Wilkinson and their dog Tagger live in a tiny cabin in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

• Indian Beauty Queen (V+, 5.10, A1), First known ascent of Peak 5394, Indian Himalaya, w/ Ben Ditto, Pat Goodman and Freddie Wilkinson, 2008
• Billfish Dihedral (IV, 5.10+), first ascent of Shaleur Blow Me Down, Newfoundland, w/ Sarah Garlick and Kirsten Kremer, 2009
• Red Pillar, Aguja Mermoz (650m, 5.11+ A1), Patagonia, Argentina w/ Zach Schlosar, 2008
• Regular 1985 Route, La Esphinge (800m, 5.11) Cordillera Blanca, Peru w/ Sarah Garlick, 2004
• Anglo-American Route, Innominata (600m, 5.10+ A1) Patagonia , Argentina, w/ Sarah Garlick, Kirsten Kremer, 2006
• Comasana-Fonrouge 'sit start', Ag. Guillamet (1,100m, 5.10+ A1), Patagonia, Argentina w/ K Kremer, 2008
• Solitary Confinement, Prince Albert Spire (400m, 5.11 A1), Bugaboos, w/ Sarah Garlick, Doug Madara 2007

• Upcoming projects include expeditions to northern India, Argentina and Norway, mixed with wedding planning and building a house.

Catch up with Janet on Splitterville.blogspot.com/

Ueli Steck

The record meant nothing to me I knew that was not my real best. I had just been faster than the others. Ueli Steck

The simpler the challenge is for Ueli Steck, the more compelling. And it was the promise of simplicity that initially drew Ueli to the mountains after a youth spent playing competitive hockey. The rules were so clear. You get to the top of not. There is no maybe, no doubts Sometimes just to be out there is so simple. Youre happy as soon as you are laying in your sleeping bag with a warm meal.

Today, the thirty-four year old Swiss sometimes carpenter and full-time alpinist excels in virtually every style of climbing. Every discipline is fascinating, says Ueli, whose staggering tick-list includes everything from El Capitan free climbs and 5.13 solos to 8,000 meter peaks and bold solos and speed records in the Alps and the Canadian Rockies. But dont be fooled by big numbers: his achievements are the by-product of a more personal goal. I like to push my personal limits. It doesnt matter what the result is afterwards For me its most important to push my body to its full potential.

Ueli would prefer to let his accomplishments speak for themselves. In 2007, he broke the speed record on the North Face of the Eiger by nearly 46 minutes, sprinting up the 6,000 foot face in only three hours and fifty-four minutes. But Steck wasnt done. The record meant nothing to me I knew that was not my real best. I had just been faster than the others. After a year of disciplined training and conditioning, he returned to the Eiger again, and incredibly, cut another hour off his own record.

These days, Ueli is most focused on the high peaks of the Himalaya: in 2009, he reached the summits of two 8,000 meter peaks. Yet these climbs were only a warm up for a bigger dream, to solo a hard technical line on one of the worlds highest mountains. Patience is important, he notes: To climb something very difficult you need to be the right time in the right place, and remember the mountain is always stronger then you. Nevertheless Ueli going to keep trying.

You can bet on that.

• Speed Record Matterhorn 1 hour 56 minutes
• Speed Record Grandes Jorasses 2 hours 21 minutes
• Speed Record Eiger 2 hours 47 minutes
• F.A. North Wall Tengkampoche (6500 m)
• Gasherbrum II (8035 m) Karakorum, Pakistan
• Near on-sight of Golden Gate on El Capitan
• 2009 Piolets dOr Winner

Catch up with Ueli on Uelisteck.ch/en.html

Follow his latest expedition, Himalaya Speed