Three north faces, two bike rides, two alpinists

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Three north faces,
two bike rides, two alpinists

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NORTH3

THE PROJECT

Late summer 1991. Hans Kammerlander and Hans-Peter Eisendle, two of the boldest mountaineers of all time, conceived a new challenge, hybrid and progressive, on their home mountains: they climbed in a single day the north faces of Ortles and Cima Grande di Lavaredo, covering the distance between the two mountains (246 km) by fair means, on their bikes. What was born more or less as a game became the milestone of a new way of conceiving mountain activities.

Spring 2018. Simon Gietl and Vittorio Messini took the baton and challenge that achievement, adding a third north face, the Grossglockner’s, and another 117 kilometres by bike. This adventure has not only been the celebration of a hybrid, clean and sustainable way of enjoying the mountains, nor just an exploit, or a dialogue with a page of history and its spirit: the entire enterprise was also an opportunity to collect donations for Südtirol Hilft, a charity organization for people under severe emergency.

7300M

of ascents and descents

48HRS

TO ACCOMPLISH THE CHALLENGE

2 ACTIVITIES

CLIMBING AND CYCLING

“FOLLOWING THE FOOTSTEPS OF MEN THAT MORE THAN TWENTY YEARS AGO IMAGINED THE FUTURE OF MOUNTAINEERING IS A CHALLENGE IN ITSELF: WHAT THESE PEOPLE DID IS SIMPLY HARD TO BELIEVE. BUT OUR AIM IS NOT JUST A TRIBUTE, A SORT OF SECOND EDITION: WE WANT TO PUSH OUR LIMITS FURTHER.  WE WANT TO BUILD A PEER DIALOGUE WITH OUR PRECURSORS”.

Simon Gietl and Vittorio Messini

SWIPE RIGHT TO SEE THE COMPLETE CHALLENGE

ORTLES
NORTH FACE

3905 m

246 km

CIMA GRANDE NORTH FACE
2999 m

117 km

GROSSGLOCKNER NORTH FACE
3798 m

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246 KM
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117 KM
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3+2=2 - Three north faces, two bike rides and two alpinists: Simon and Vittorio will start from Sulden at 7 pm. The aim is to reach the summit of Ortles at 1 am and then ski down. At around 5.30 pm, after 10 hours on their bike, they will climb the classical route Comici-Dimai on Cima Grande di Lavaredo and descend on the normal route. After another 117 kilometers by bike they will reach the Grosslockner for their last effort, before finishing their adventure at around 7.00 pm at Lucknerhaus, in Austria. Their goal is finishing the project in under 48 hours.

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3+2=2 - Three north faces, two bike rides and two alpinists: Simon and Vittorio will start from Sulden at 7 pm. The aim is to reach the summit of Ortles at 1 am and then ski down. At around 5.30 pm, after 10 hours on their bike, they will climb the classical route Comici-Dimai on Cima Grande di Lavaredo and descend on the normal route. After another 117 kilometers by bike they will reach the Grosslockner for their last effort, before finishing their adventure at around 7.00 pm at Lucknerhaus, in Austria. Their goal: finishing the project in under 48 hours.

DOWNLOAD THE COMPLETE PROGRAMME

SIMON GIETL
PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE

Simon, born in 1984, lives in Luttach, in Ahrntal, and is a professional athlete. Simon’s life revolves around the idea of discovering, defining and climbing new routes, modern and difficult, but with traditional protections. He likes to travel and to explore new and unexpected places, but the Dolomites are still his inspiration and favourite playground.

He is an alpinist at the very core, but he doesn’t disdain practicing a lot of running, bicycling and ski touring, as a fun means of training but also just as a clean way to reach the mountains.

SIMON'S BIO

THE ROUTE

Three north faces, over technically demanding routes, 7,300 vertical metres and 363 kilometres on foot and by road bike – by fair means.

SIMON GIETL
PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE

Simon, born in 1984, lives in Luttach, in Ahrntal, and is a professional athlete. Simon’s life revolves around the idea of discovering, defining and climbing new routes, modern and difficult, but with traditional protections. He likes to travel and to explore new and unexpected places, but the Dolomites are still his inspiration and favourite playground.

He is an alpinist at the very core, but he doesn’t disdain practicing a lot of running, bicycling and ski touring, as a fun means of training but also just as a clean way to reach the mountains.

SIMON'S BIO

FOLLOW THE ATHLETES VIA LIVE TRACKING

During the entire enterprise, from Ortles to Bolzano, from Tre Cime to Grossglockner, it will be possible to follow Simon and Vittorio via an online live tracking map. Are you curious about where they are or how fast they are going in comparison to Hans Kammerlander and Hans-Peter Eisendle? Just open the live tracking and discover it by yourself!

THE ATHLETES

SIMON GIETL
PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE

Simon, born in 1984, lives in Luttach, in Ahrntal, and is a professional athlete. Simon’s life revolves around the idea of discovering, defining and climbing new routes, modern and difficult, but with traditional protections. He likes to travel and to explore new and unexpected places, but the Dolomites are still his inspiration and favourite playground.

He is an alpinist at the very core, but he doesn’t disdain practicing a lot of running, bicycling and ski touring, as a fun means of training but also just as a clean way to reach the mountains.

SIMON'S BIO

VITTORIO MESSINI
PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE

Vittorio, born in Florence in 1988, lives in Kals, at the feet of the Grossglockner, since he was a child. He works as a mountain guide, sharing his all-around passion for mountains with others. He is a humble and motivated person, and loves to go to the mountains in the cleanest way possible, leaving nothing behind and taking only good memories and stories to share.

VITTORIO'S BIO

SIMON GIETL
PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE

Simon, born in 1984, lives in Luttach, in Ahrntal, and is a professional athlete. Simon’s life revolves around the idea of discovering, defning and climbing new routes, modern and difcult, but with traditional protections. He likes to travel and to explore new and unexpected places, but the Dolomites are still his inspiration and favourite playground.

He is an alpinist at the very core, but he doesn’t disdain practicing a lot of running, bicycling and ski touring, as a fun means of training but also just as a clean way to reach the mountains.

SIMON'S BIO

VITTORIO MESSINI
PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE

Vittorio, born in Florence in 1988, lives in Kals, at the feet of the Grossglockner, since he was a child. He works as a mountain guide, sharing his all-around passion for mountains with others. He is a humble and motivated person, and loves to go to the mountains in the cleanest way possible, leaving nothing behind and taking only good memories and stories to share.

VITTORIO'S BIO

THE ATHLETES

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TOGETHER WE ARE STRONG

A project like this would not have been feasible without the help of many volunteers and partners who strongly believed in the keynote of this challenge, the physical and psychical strength of the athletes and the fundamental idea that only together you can write history. We wholeheartedly want to thank all who supported Simon and Vittorio in this very special project.