Fredrik Ericsson on Kangchenjunga

Fredrik Ericsson Has Enjoyed Skiing On K2

Fredrik Ericsson, a famous extreme skier, and his partner Michele has conquered the second highest peak Mount Godwin Austen (K2) situated on the border between Pakistan and the Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County of Xinjiang in China. 8,611 metres high K2 is a part of Himalayan mountain range and is notorious for its high fatalities rate among mountain climbers. It is also duly named the Savage Mountain.

Fredrik Ericsson has reported that this week snow conditions on the steep slopes of K2 are excellent. "A few days ago my partner Michele and I was on our first acclimatization trip we got to experience how big the mountain really is. At the beginning (above our 5100m base camp) it was a nice ski slope of 30 degrees with perfect hard packed snow. ...The ski slope got steeper, between 40-50 degrees and the snow got deeper. I had a hard time to stop dreaming about the upcoming ski descent on this perfect slope in soft powder snow."

The duo of desperados enjoyed skiing at 6,000 meters above sea level. Mr. Ericsson reported "<When> it stopped snowing and cleared up so we put our skis on and started sliding down the mountain. We took it easy in the beginning since I am always a bit unsecure on a new mountain especially when it is steep and rocks around. The snow was better than we had expected, cold and just a little windpacked and it was sloughing a bit."

Photo: Fredrik Ericsson on Kangchenjunga, by Skieur (wikimedia.org)

Date: 24.06.2009