SWITZERLAND – With 4,400 meters (~14436 feet) of elevation gain over 30 kilometers (~18.6 miles), The Spaghetti Tour reaches the summit of 18 4,000 meter peaks. It’s named after the Italian huts that typically offer climbers food and accommodation throughout the mountains, with most experienced mountaineers completing the route in three to five days.
Andy Steindl set his first best time of the Spaghetti Tour back in 2015 alongside the legendary Ueli Steck in an incredible 14 hours and 35 minutes. But that record was beaten, and in 2021 Benjamin Védrines brought the time down to just 9 hours and 18 minutes. Andy attempted the record in 2022, missing it by just 10 minutes alongside Martin Anthamatten. So this year, in 2024, he set out after it once again.
Andy started his attempt at 2:45 a.m on July 19, 2024, at the Monte Rosa Hut at 2,882 meters (~9,455 feet). The first peak, Nordend, sits at 4,608 m (~15,118 feet). The last peak, the Klein Matterhorn in Zermatt, sits at 3,817 m (~12523 feet). He reached it at 10:31 a.m., setting the new record at a remarkable 7 hours, 45 minutes, and 44 seconds, all alone. Pretty remarkable stuff.