Dear friends of Ueli,
Today marks the seventh anniversary of Ueli's death and it seems to me a good time to talk not about loss, but about moving on. Ueli's personality lives on in his achievements, with which he pushed boundaries in mountaineering. It lives on in the memories of those people who walked a longer or shorter part of his life with him, in shared experiences and stories. And it lives on in the inspiration he gave to many. Ueli also left behind material things. Some time was to pass before the pain of loss gave way to the desire to create something new. Over the years, the idea of giving something back to the local climbing community has grown. Giving back to the community of which Ueli was a part, to the climbing sport that meant so much to him. But also giving back to the climbing community that carried me through the difficult time after Ueli's accident. And to the sport of climbing, which gave me a feeling of "normal" even in the most difficult moments. This is how the vision of the "Orbit" bouldering and climbing gym grew: Orbit brings together all climbing enthusiasts (and those who want to become one) in the Interlaken/ Berner Oberland area under one roof, so that amateur athletes mix with top athletes, young and old, schools, families, locals and visitors - making Orbit not only a training facility, but also a place where people can have a coffee or a beer together and make plans. With the support of investors, the vision has become a plan: the ground-breaking ceremony took place last November and the opening is planned for early 2025. I also intend to donate Ueli's legacy to the Alpine Museum of Switzerland. Ueli shaped the development of alpinism. By pushing boundaries, he prepared the ground for further developments and inspired future generations of mountaineers. By handing over his legacy to the Alpine Museum, I want to ensure that it is in good hands, properly documented, archived and made accessible to future generations - so that something new can emerge from it! Ringgenberg, April 30, 2024, Nicole Steck www.orbit-interlaken.ch www.alpinesmuseum.ch |