Ski Everest 2006 - Tomas Olsson http://everytrail.net/blog/tomas/ An attempt to ski the North face of Mt Everest en Copyright 2006 Tue, 06 Jun 2006 12:05:40 +0100 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/?v=3.2 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Tomas Olsson's Funeral Tomas Olsson's funeral will be held on June 16th at 1.00 pm, at the St Sigfrid's Cemetery in Borås, Sweden.

It is a public funeral, so everybody is welcome. Afterwards there will be time to talk about and remember Tomas. To
participate in the gathering, contact www.lenbergs.se

]]> http://everytrail.net/blog/tomas/2006/06/tomas_olssons_funeral.php http://everytrail.net/blog/tomas/2006/06/tomas_olssons_funeral.php Tue, 06 Jun 2006 12:05:40 +0100 Tomas' body found I am very sad to report that Tomas Olsson has been found dead. His father reported the news. The world has lost a fantastic person and one of the greatest ski mountaineers. My thoughts are with all the ones close to him.

Tomas’ body has been flown to Kathmandu by a helicopter from Nepal. The fact that he was found (at 6700 m right below the Great Couloir where he fell) and that his body is on the way home is a positive thing among all the sadness about his loss. A helicopter evacuation from the North side of Everest has never been accomplished before. His family, close friends, teammates, Nepalese trekking agency and the Swedish embassy have all played an incredible positive role in making this happen, giving Tomas the honor he deserves.

]]> http://everytrail.net/blog/tomas/2006/05/tomas_body_found_1.php http://everytrail.net/blog/tomas/2006/05/tomas_body_found_1.php Sat, 20 May 2006 21:22:20 +0100 Support search for Tomas Two funds have been started to support the search for Tomas. The funds are endorsed by Tomas' family. Please consider contributing.

Fri Flyt (Norwegian)
Student.se (Swedish)

]]> http://everytrail.net/blog/tomas/2006/05/support_search_for_tomas.php http://everytrail.net/blog/tomas/2006/05/support_search_for_tomas.php Sat, 20 May 2006 19:42:43 +0100 Search underway Today a search for Tomas has started. Fredrik Schenholm, Olof Sundström and Martin Letzer are heading towards the Central Rongbuk Glacier. They will use the British Army camp as their base. Tormod Granheim is waiting in Everest basecamp for a helicopter, that will probably arrive tomorrow (Sunday). He will join the helicopter crew to help them navigate to the location where Tomas' fall may have stopped.

Fredrik, Tormod, Martin and OIof

]]> http://everytrail.net/blog/tomas/2006/05/search_underway_1.php http://everytrail.net/blog/tomas/2006/05/search_underway_1.php Sat, 20 May 2006 14:22:34 +0100 Report from Fredrik Schenholm Fredrik Schenholm, the team's photographer, reports from Everest. He was at the North Col when Tomas and Tormod were on the mountain:

]]> http://everytrail.net/blog/tomas/2006/05/report_from_fredrik_schenholm.php http://everytrail.net/blog/tomas/2006/05/report_from_fredrik_schenholm.php Fri, 19 May 2006 20:14:45 +0100 Update on search for Tomas There are efforts being done to get a helicopter flight to the North Face area either from China or Kathmandu. This is the most effective way to quickly search the area and should ideally be supported by a ground party of climbers and Sherpas. I have been in touch with Swedish authorities in Stockholm and China and they are trying to do what they can.

Here follows a message by Viviane Seigneur, Tomas' girlfriend:

I am asking to people on the North side of Everest to consider helping to find Tomas. I'm an alpinist and I know the attraction of the summit, but isn't trying to save someone more noble that to reach the summit? For the moment, I know that a lot of people are high on the mountain, but even just a few people helping would be very valuable. From the North col, people can help by following the "Messner road" and search the area with binoculars, because there is a chance that Tomas' fall was stopped there. If you need more information, or have more information, please contact me via the messages on this blog, or email to team@everytrail.net Thank you, Viviane Seigneur
]]> http://everytrail.net/blog/tomas/2006/05/update_on_tomas_search.php http://everytrail.net/blog/tomas/2006/05/update_on_tomas_search.php Thu, 18 May 2006 20:09:50 +0100 Tomas missing after fall Tomas Olsson is missing on the North Face of Everest. Hel fell at approximately 8500 meter when a rope that they used for a rappel broke loose. Tormod Granheim was with him and climbed after him, but was not able to find him.

Tormod and Fredrik Schenholm are now heading towards the foot of the North Face to look for Tomas.

I am very sorry to have to report this sad news, and I am extremely sad that the information I received yesterday turned out to be incorrect. Let's hope for the best. I am now going to make phone calls to Everest Army basecamp, that is located near the foot of the North Face, to see if they can be of any help.

]]> http://everytrail.net/blog/tomas/2006/05/tomas_missing_after_fall.php http://everytrail.net/blog/tomas/2006/05/tomas_missing_after_fall.php Wed, 17 May 2006 20:13:04 +0100 Tomas and Tormod reach summit. Ski descent in progress! Tomas just called from the summit of mt Everest! He and Tormod were about to put on their skis and try the descent down the Norton Couloir!

Here is an English transcript of his Swedish voice call:

Hello, this is Tomas Olsson! I am on the top of Mount Everest, together with Tormod Granheim, Jamabo Sherpa and Sering Fandepote. It has been incredible tough climbing this night. There has been snowstorm all the way. We begun to climb at approximately ten at night and reached the top at noon. Hopefully, we have sufficient forces to do a ski descent down the North Face of Mount Everest. I will report again later

Let's hope they have a successful and safe descent. More news is expected in a couple of hours.

The audio file is here, but beware, it's in Swedish :)
Listen to Tomas' audioblog from the summit of Mount Everest! (mp3)

]]> http://everytrail.net/blog/tomas/2006/05/tomas_and_tormod_reach_summit.php http://everytrail.net/blog/tomas/2006/05/tomas_and_tormod_reach_summit.php Tue, 16 May 2006 06:55:56 +0100 Tomas at 7900 m, going to summit tonight Tomas just called from his camp at 7900. He will atttempt to reach the summit tonight and ski down the Norton Couloir on the North Face of Everest.

Listen to Tomas' audioblog from his camp at 7900 meter (mp3)

Tomas, good luck and be safe!

]]> http://everytrail.net/blog/tomas/2006/05/audio_moblog.php http://everytrail.net/blog/tomas/2006/05/audio_moblog.php Mon, 15 May 2006 10:29:02 +0100 Summit plans! Tomas and Tormod are heading towards the summit the coming days.

Their tentative schedule is:

May 14: North Col
May 15: Camp at 7900
May 16: Summit attempt

We'll keep you posted with their progress.

]]> http://everytrail.net/blog/tomas/2006/05/summit_plans.php http://everytrail.net/blog/tomas/2006/05/summit_plans.php Sat, 13 May 2006 18:35:54 +0100 Time for summit attempts! 6 Sherpas from Himalayan Experience made the summit in April, since then almost two weeks without anyone reaching the summit.

]]> http://everytrail.net/blog/tomas/2006/05/time_for_summit_attempts.php http://everytrail.net/blog/tomas/2006/05/time_for_summit_attempts.php Thu, 11 May 2006 06:46:02 +0100 Back in Basecamp Back in Base camp, quite a bit of wind (it was -27 celsius and 40 knots on the summit today according to our weather forecast, seems a bit chilly...) and a bit of clouds but the main problem is our health.

]]> http://everytrail.net/blog/tomas/2006/05/back_in_basecamp.php http://everytrail.net/blog/tomas/2006/05/back_in_basecamp.php Wed, 10 May 2006 13:44:25 +0100 Skiing from 7500 meters Monday 1 May
Restday in ABC
Even though it's my 2:nd restday I still feel a bit sore from climbing to 7300 metres and skiing down the day before yesterday. Recovery really is not fast at 6400 m. I eat, drink and relax all day except some easy going photo shoots with photographer Fredrik Schenholm.

]]> http://everytrail.net/blog/tomas/2006/05/skiing_from_7500_meter.php http://everytrail.net/blog/tomas/2006/05/skiing_from_7500_meter.php Tue, 09 May 2006 16:08:14 +0100 Unconfirmed news from Tomas and Tormod Tomas and Tormod have been out of touch for a while, but I just got word from a friend in Advanced Basecamp that the two Vikings climbed up to 7500 meter and skied down to the North Col. and then continued down the west ("other") side of the North Col, to the Central Rongbuk glacier, to the foot of the North Face of Everest. This news is not confirmed. Hopefully they will be in touch soon to confirm this good news.

]]> http://everytrail.net/blog/tomas/2006/05/unconfirmed_news_from_tomas_an.php http://everytrail.net/blog/tomas/2006/05/unconfirmed_news_from_tomas_an.php Sun, 07 May 2006 07:28:57 +0100 Plans for the coming days We will the coming days move up to ABC at 6400 meters. From there we will explore the area, climbing to the North Col and beyond, in our continuos research of the North Face and the possibility of a first ski descent.

]]> http://everytrail.net/blog/tomas/2006/04/plans_for_the_coming_days_1.php http://everytrail.net/blog/tomas/2006/04/plans_for_the_coming_days_1.php Wed, 26 Apr 2006 05:58:06 +0100