Pakistan Ski Expedition 2005
The Karakorams in Pakistan are some of the most spectacular mountains in the world, including Laila Peak (6614 m) - said to be the most beautiful mountain in Asia.
Fredrik Ericsson and Jörgen Aamot will, this summer, attempt the first ski descents of the steep slopes of Laila Peak. If they succeed they will continue up the Baltoro Valley to attempt an unskied line on Gasherbrum 2 (8035 m), the 13th highest mountain in the world.
Fredrik Ericsson is a skier and mountaineer who spends most of his time in the mountains around Chamonix, France. Known as one of the top ski mountaineers in the world after ski descents of Shisha Pangma (8013 m) in Tibet and Peak Somoni (7495 m) in Tajikistan.
Jörgen Aamot grew up in the mountains of Oppdal, Norway and teaches skiing, climbing and avalanche awareness at the Hallingdal College in Gol, Norway. He has multiple first ski descents throughout Norway for example in the Lyngen Alps, Hurrungane and Sunndalen Alps. This will be his first encounter with the high mountains of Karakoram.
The Expedition
On June 8, Fredrik and Jörgen will fly to Islamabad in Pakistan and will then continue north to the Karakoram Mountains. First they will travel with jeeps via Skardu to Hushe and from there continue on foot. Porters will help out carrying gear up to Laila Peak Base Camp which they will reach after 7 days. Thereafter they will use a couple of weeks for acclimatisation and climbing to make it up to the top of Laila Peak, 6614 meters. Fredrik and Jörgen will try to ski the steep west face of Laila Peak, something that’s never been done before.
After Laila Peak they will continue up the Baltoro Valley via Gondogoro pass and Concordia to the Gasherbrum glacier where the Gasherbrum Base Camp is situated at 5200 meters. During the next few weeks they will try to climb Gasherbrum 2 (8035 m) which is the 13th highest peak in the world. Fredrik and Jörgen then plan to ski descend the mountain via an unskied line.
To follow Fredrik and Jörgen’s adventures in Pakistan, check out: www.fredrikericsson.com.
The j2ski Team wish Fredrik and Jörgen the best of luck and look forward to reporting their progress here.
