Adidas Outdoor added ice alpinist Ben Erdmann, 26, to its team of athletes. Erdmann was introduced to the sport of ice climbing when he was 15, and has since made several notable ascents in Alaska’s Kichatna Mountains, summited Fitz Roy in Patagonia a total of three times, and made the first ascent of a remote 6,000 meter peak on the border of Nepal and China during a three month expedition to the Himalayas.
“Ben has that unique style, clear vision, and dedicated focus that we look for in our brand ambassadors,” said Greg Thomsen, Adidas Outdoor managing director. “He has a passion for climbing and adventure that pushes boundaries and has driven him to the most remote areas on the planet. We see this as a like-minded partnership and we are committed to helping him in his future endeavors.”
In April 2013, Erdmann was part of a successful expedition that made the first ascent of Hypa Zypa Couloir, a difficult ice and mixed route on the east face of the Citadel in Alaska’s Kichatna Range, during a 70-hour round trip. This month Erdmann will be back in the Kichatna region exploring an untouched area, attempting first ascents of the southeast face of Augustin Peak and the east buttress of an un-named peak near Trident Glacier in eastern Kichatna.
Ben currently resides in Matanuska Valley, Alaska, and makes annual trips to climb in Yosemite Valley where he regularly rope solos El Capitan. Erdmann travels around the world mountaineering, and has biked 1,000 miles north to south in Alaska, canoed 1,000 miles solo on the Yukon River over the course of 28 days and rappelled off the Seattle Space Needle to pressure wash it for the first time after it was built.
