A Connecticut-based banking executive tragically lost his life during an extreme endurance challenge known as “Everesting” in Wyoming. Slava Leykind, 43, a father of three from Westport, Connecticut, suffered a cardiac arrest after ascending and descending a peak at Snow King Mountain in Jackson Hole six times in quick succession.
The “Everesting” challenge involves participants hiking up a mountain repeatedly until they reach the equivalent height of Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak at 29,032 feet. This typically involves multiple ascents of a 1,500-foot mountain.
Leykind was able to complete six laps of the challenge before emergency services were called. He was swiftly transported to the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho, where he passed away on July 2nd.
The Teton County coroner identified the cause of death as an electrolyte imbalance that led to cardiac arrest. Leykind was a resident of Westport, where he lived with his wife and their three children.
Professionally, Leykind was an executive at CG Sawaya Partners, a New York City-based investment bank. He had been with the company for two decades, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Despite his professional accomplishments, Leykind’s greatest pride was his family. His obituary highlighted his role as a husband and father as his most significant achievement, passion, and source of pride. It noted that he was a fervent supporter of his children, bringing love and a sense of calm to the bustling household.