Pittsburgh Man Carries Steelers Terrible Towel to Mount Everest Summit

Allen Dean climbed Everest as a tribute to his late friend 'Big Mike'.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 12:22am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting a Steelers Terrible Towel being waved amidst the jagged, snow-capped peaks of Mount Everest, capturing the emotional connection between sports fandom and personal loss.A Pittsburgh Steelers fan's tribute to his late friend reaches the highest point on Earth.Today in Pittsburgh

Allen Dean, a lifelong Pittsburgh Steelers fan from Sewickley, Pennsylvania, recently climbed to the summit of Mount Everest while carrying a Terrible Towel as a tribute to his late friend and father figure 'Big Mike'. Dean trained extensively for the climb and took the iconic Steelers towel with him to the top of the world's highest mountain.

Why it matters

The Terrible Towel is a beloved symbol of Pittsburgh Steelers fandom, and Dean's gesture of taking it to the top of Mount Everest is a unique and heartfelt way to honor his friend's memory. This story highlights the deep connections fans can have with their sports teams and how those bonds can transcend the game itself.

The details

After his friend 'Big Mike' passed away a few months ago, Dean's widow gave him Big Mike's Terrible Towel and asked if he could take it to the summit of Everest if he made the climb. Dean, who had been training extensively by hiking at regional state parks with his kids, agreed to do it as a tribute to his late father figure. He carried the iconic towel with him throughout his Everest expedition.

  • Allen Dean recently completed his Mount Everest climb.
  • Big Mike, Dean's late friend and father figure, passed away a few months ago.

The players

Allen Dean

A lifelong Pittsburgh Steelers fan from Sewickley, Pennsylvania who recently climbed to the summit of Mount Everest while carrying a Terrible Towel as a tribute to his late friend 'Big Mike'.

Big Mike

Dean's late friend and father figure, who passed away a few months ago.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I had to show myself that I can do whatever I set my mind to. By doing that, I was an example to my kids that, through all the hardships our family has gone through, if you put your mind to something, you can do it, and if it is something as big as Everest, whatever it is, that if you put your mind to it, you can do it.”

— Allen Dean

“She asked me, 'Allen, would you be able to take the terrible towel to Everest if you make it?' I said, 'Absolutely, for Big Mike, anything.' Big Mike was like my last father figure that I had around, so it meant a lot to me to just bring peace. It just meant a lot to me to finalize the loss of such a male role model in my life.”

— Allen Dean

The takeaway

This story showcases the deep emotional connections that sports fans can have with their teams and how those bonds can transcend the game itself. Dean's gesture of taking the iconic Terrible Towel to the summit of Mount Everest as a tribute to his late friend is a heartwarming example of how sports can bring people together and provide meaning during difficult times.