Stephen Koch
The seven summits snowboard quest is Stephen Koch's dream to climb and
snowboard the highest peak on each of the seven continents. Koch has already summited and descended on snowboard: Kilimanjaro (19,339ft) in Africa, Aconcagua (22,829ft) in South America, Elbrus (18,481ft)in Russia, and Denali (20,320ft) in North America. This expedition marks his attempt to climb and descend Vinson Massif (16,076ft), the fifth summit on his quest.
According to Koch, Antarctica hasn't seen many snowboarders, if any. Not only would this be the fifth milestone on his quest, but it would be the first snowboard descent of Vinson. Koch recently told MountainZone.com, "That would be pretty incredible, to be the first person to carve turns on a snowboard, on a tool that I love so much and that I think is so functional for the mountains, down on the southern continent."
After an avalanche swept him down the face of Mount Owen (12,928ft) in the Tetons a year-and-a-half ago, Koch spent nine months of intensive rehab recovering from injuries sustained after he tumbled 2,200 feet. It's been almost six months since his last surgery, and "the recovery has come way ahead of schedule." Koch went back to Owen this spring to make peace with the mountain. This time he summited and snowboarded it successfully. "To climb back up what I had been flung down, it was something else. It was really rewarding."
After spending part of last summer guiding with Exum Mountain Guides in the Tetons, where he has guided for nine years, Koch says he is feeling good and is excited to be part of a strong team.
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