This post sponsored by our publishing partner Cripple Creek Backcountry. Ask them about the 24-hour wax job.
Sean Van Horn during his Colorado attempt at the human powered skiing record.
NEWS FLASH: From midday yesterday to this morning, skimo racer Sean Van Horn (age 32) made an exciting stab at his mark in the record books. At Buttermilk resort near Aspen, he skied up and down the Tiehack ski slopes for a total 60,000 vertical feet, just short of the mark he was aiming for (Mike Foote’s 62,000 vertical foot day in 2018). Sean skied at an oxygen deprived starting altitude of 8,037 feet, which as far as I know is significantly higher than other record attempts, meaning Sean might be the toughest of them all. We’ll update this with more info as it comes in. Meanwhile, congratulations Sean on a bold attempt!
Note: as far as we know, the biggest verts skied in a day have been done by Skjevheim in 2018, 20,939 vertical meters, and Killian Jornet’s 23’400 vertical meters. Killian’s is said to be the record.
Go Sean!
More about 24 hour uphill skiing here.
WildSnow.com publisher emeritus and founder Lou (Louis Dawson) has a 50+ years career in climbing, backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering. He was the first person in history to ski down all 54 Colorado 14,000-foot peaks, has authored numerous books about about backcountry skiing, and has skied from the summit of Denali in Alaska, North America’s highest mountain. For more about Lou, please see his personal website at https://www.loudawson.com/ (Blogger stats: 5 foot 10 inches (178 cm) tall, 160 lbs (72574.8 grams).
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lou.dawson.writer
8 comments
Kilian Jornet just did 23’400m in 24 hours, that’s more than 77’000ft -> https://kilianjornet.cat/en/blog/how-many-meters-of-elevation-gain-can-i-do-in-24-hours
Thanks Sev, I’m trying to get clear on which number Sean was trying to best, but it’s sure a personal best!
I bet Kilian didn’t do it while wearing a plaid shirt and blue jean print tights. Clothing choice may not be important in Euro land, but in Aspen I am told that style matters.
(Impressive feats, both. About one tenth of that is a huge day for me.)
nice job! It must be awesome to be able to go after a record like this in a state where cannabis is legal.
1) What gear was he on?
2) Do his bindings go all the way up to 16?
3) Where does he stand on the adjustable-pole issue?
These are the things your readership wants to know.
😉
What’s with you guys, no comments about drilling holes in a thousand dollar backpack? I’ve been covering the wrong stuff, apparently. Lou
Wrong Article Lou
Busted!
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