I am sad to report that Swedish ski mountaineer Fredrik Ericsson has died on K2. Fredrik, who was trying to ski K2, was with female Austrian mountaineer Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner and on a summit bid when Fredrick, for unknown reasons, fell 1,000 meters and was killed.
This is very sad to read as I’ve been following this expedition from the beginning. I was just checking out Fredrik’s website this morning becasue I knew they were making a second attempt at the summit after an aborted mission about a week ago. K2 continues to be killer, and on a previous attempt last year to ski the peak, Fredrik’s partner Michele Fait was killed in a fall as well. Makes you really think about your goals and objectives…and where to draw the line. Rest in peace Fredrik. I will miss reading about your adventures and enthusiasm for skiing.
Very sad news indeed. I quite enjoyed and gained much insight from Fredrick’s posts and adventures. RIP.
Incredibly saddening. Fred was a really sweet guy.
yes it is dave. i never met fred personally, but i loved his attitude and could feel the enthusiasm for skiing in his writing. i was really hoping K2 would get skied fom the summit on this trip.
from what i’ve read, they were above the bottleneck and pushing for the top. a storm moved in. temps had been warm the days prior…and he might have been hit by a rock or swept away by an avalanche. nothing confirmed just yet.
Sad news Steve…..we lost a good man today. RIP Frippe.
"Makes you really think about your goals and objectives…and where to draw the line."–a succinct and respectful way to point out something anyone who takes part in mountain sports has to consider when they hear this news. I’d been trying to keep up with this trip until about a week ago when life got hectic, but I admit that I felt a sense of dread every time I read an update.
Somehow, I find the entirety of this story, even with its tragic ending, perversly inspiring. To have returned to a mountain that killed his partner and attempt the same goal shows unfathomable determination, focus, and confidence. I would feel fortunate to have even a fraction of those qualities.
Very Sad,thanks for sharing….
agreed chris. with the history of K2, it was hard not to think about what might happen to fredrik up there. his determination to ski in these high peaks was incredible, even in the face of previous adversity.
R.I.P.
Hey Steve,
Fredrik was a friend and ski partner. I was always truly impressed with his humble attitude and amazing ability. I really thought if there was anyone who could actually ski K2, Fredrik would be the one! I am deeply saddened to have lost a friend and to his credit, he lived his life as he wished and dreamed. Many of aspire to those goals, but Fredrik truly lived them. RIP my friend!!!
Stephen…thank you for your comments. I wish I could have met Fredrik, but I was lucky enough to know him from afar just the same.
Were they trying to beat Davo Karnicar (Slovenian) as the first to ski K2 from the summit? I heard he was going to attempt it this August too. He is the only one who has a real chance of skiing it, in my opinion.
walt…i think they were just trying to ski K2…not necessarily “beat” anyone. i haven’t heard any reports of davo’s attempts yet…but will try to fins out more info.