26 summits and 26 summits Extreme athlete Renggli: Cried from exhaustion

Tobias Renggli, a 23-year-old extreme sports enthusiast from Lucerne, completed an ambitious challenge by climbing all the highest peaks of each Swiss canton within less than 26 days. The feat was documented in a film produced by the Western Swiss Broadcasting Company (RTS), which has now been released online. During his journey, Renggli rode a bicycle over more than 2,500 kilometers and hiked thousands of meters in elevation, pushing both his physical and mental limits. Renggli’s adventure began with a personal goal he had set for himself since his youth. As a teenager, he had already climbed all the cantonal high points, though spread out over several years. This time, however, he aimed to complete the entire route in one continuous stretch, within fewer than 26 days. His journey was accompanied by a film crew from RTS, who captured his arduous trek through the Alps. The documentary, titled Gipfeli of Switzerland, highlights the challenges and triumphs of his expedition. The trip was marked by extreme weather conditions and physical exhaustion. On the Finsteraarhorn, the highest peak in the Canton of Bern at 4,274 meters, Renggli and his rope partner, Martin Anthamatten, a ski mountaineer and trail runner, turned back approximately 50 meters below the summit due to unsafe conditions. Despite this setback, Renggli expressed pride in their decision to retreat. “I’m even proud that we had the courage to turn back,” he stated. At one point during the journey, Renggli found himself physically and mentally drained. After reaching the Dufourspitze, the highest peak in the Canton of Valais at 4,634 meters, he suffered from gastrointestinal issues and required a 14-hour treatment in Visp. By the tenth day, the mission seemed on the verge of failure. At the Albulapass, Renggli collapsed under the weight of fatigue. He described sitting beneath a tree there, sobbing from sheer exhaustion. “I saw no way it could be possible to climb all the remaining mountains,” he recalled. Beyond the physical demands, Renggli also undertook a playful challenge: eating a gipfeli, a traditional Swiss pastry, at each cantonal high point. The quality of these pastries varied widely, ranging from freshly baked goods in Zug to dry industrial products in the Jura region. In some areas, particularly in the central part of the country where multiple cantonal peaks can be reached in a single day, the task became increasingly demanding. At times, Renggli consumed up to four gipfeli per day, totaling twelve within three days. “At some point, it got really tough to eat so many,” he admitted. As the journey progressed, Renggli’s pace increased significantly. In the Swiss Central Plateau, where the highest points of the cantons are relatively lower, he managed to climb ten peaks in just two days. Finally, after three weeks of nonstop effort, he reached the Diablerets in the Canton of Vaud, the 26th and final cantonal high point. Climbing the summit at sunset, Renggli felt an overwhelming sense of satisfaction. “It was an incredibly deep feeling of fulfillment. I was simply happy,” he confessed. For Renggli, the expedition was more than just a sporting achievement. Having cycled through all 44 countries in Europe by the age of 18, he found that this three-week mountain tour taught him more than any classroom. It also allowed him to rediscover his homeland. “Sometimes I forget how beautiful Switzerland is and how much there is to experience here,” he reflected. His message to others is clear: anyone can embark on their own search, whether it be athletic or culinary.