Everest 2006: TOMAS OLSSON is Missing on Everest

Pictures©Tomas Olsson

Update: TOMAS KENNETH OLSSON is missing. After Summiting and attempting to Ski down Everest, Thomas went missing. Details are very thin. His other team members are at camp 2 and are looking for him...

Update: May 16th In our Arun International Everest expedition, the two members name by TOMAS KENNETH OLSSON & TORMOD GRANHEIM including the Tsering pande bhote & Lama Babu Sherpa (Climbing Guides) has made the successful summit victory over the Mt Everest on 16th of may 2006.

As their plan, Tomas & Tromod are skiing down from the summit from the Norton couloir’s. Arun Treks & Expedition expressed our hearty CONGRATULATION to all the Everest Summiteers & want to safe coming down to BC.

Background: Two Vikings are getting prepared. In about one year the ambition is to stand on the summit of Everest, take a deep breath in the thin air, point the skis toward Tibet and ski down the north face of Everest. The ultimate first ski descent from the summit of the highest peak in the world.

Swedish Tomas Olsson and Norwegian Tormod Granheim do not come empty-handed. Their ski adventures together have taken them to an 8000 meter high summit and down close to 60° steep slopes.

The most recent adventure, September & October 2004, was a ski descent of Cho Oyu (8201 meters) in Tibet. They both managed to make “clean” ski descents of the sixth highest peak in the world. They did not use supplementary oxygen and not high altitude porters during the expedition. In addition they managed to make an uninterrupted ski descent from the summit at 8201 meters to 6400 meters without using ropes or any other climbing gear.

- I could see the north face of Everest from the summit of Cho Oyu. It was inspiring and I could feel how I was drawn towards Everest. After a magic moment on the summit I turned my back to Everest and skied powder on the summit plateau of Cho Oyu. Incredible to ski powder above 8000 meters, comments Tomas¹.

Tomas and Tormod both live in Chamonix in the French Alps. On a daily basis they train in the Mont Blanc region. They have made ski descents of steep classics as Couloir du Diable (50-55°) and the north face of Aiguille du Midi (50-58°).

The main sponsors of the expedition are Bergans of Norway, Silva Sweden and Focalpoint.

¹The ambition was to, after Cho Oyu, directly continue to yet another 8000 meter high mountain, Shisha Pangma, but this quest was stopped by Chinese authorities. Unexpectedly the Chinese authorities closed down the mountain due to “bad weather” and the Vikings were stopped from even trying climbing the mountain.

An American team of Steve Marolt, Jeremie Oates, Jim Gile, Kevin Dunnett, and Mike Marolt will also attempt to Everest in 2006.

Millet One Sport Everest Boot  has made some minor changes by adding more Kevlar. USES Expeditions / High altitude / Mountaineering in extremely cold conditions / Isothermal to -75°F Gore-Tex® Top dry / Evazote Reinforcements with aramid threads. Avg. Weight: 5 lbs 13 oz Sizes: 5 - 14 DESCRIPTION Boot with semi-rigid shell and built-in Gore-Tex® gaiter reinforced by aramid threads, and removable inner slipper Automatic crampon attachment Non-compressive fastening Double zip, so easier to put on Microcellular midsole to increase insulation Removable inner slipper in aluminized alveolate Fiberglass and carbon footbed Cordura + Evazote upper Elasticated collar. Expedition footwear for mountaineering in conditions of extreme cold.  NOTE US SIZES LISTED. See more here.

A cold weather, high altitude double boot for extreme conditions The Olympus Mons is the perfect choice for 8000-meter peaks. This super lightweight double boot has a PE thermal insulating inner boot that is coupled with a thermo-reflective outer boot with an integrated gaiter. We used a super insulating lightweight PE outsole to keep the weight down and the TPU midsole is excellent for crampon compatibility and stability on steep terrain. WEIGHT: 39.86 oz • 1130 g LAST: Olympus Mons CONSTRUCTION: Inner: Slip lasted Outer: Board Lasted OUTER BOOT: Cordura® upper lined with dual-density PE micro-cellular thermal insulating closed cell foam and thermo-reflective aluminium facing/ Insulated removable footbed/ Vibram® rubber rand See more here.

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