My condolences to friends and family. Frederik Ericsson suffered a fatal fall on K2 during an ambitious ski attempt. That’s a big blow after being so close. See below for a chronological news round up:

Progress reported on July 26 via The Ski Channel:

The Swedish skier Ericsson has already skied from just below Camp 2 to K2 base camp, about a 4,265 foot vertical stretch. As of July 25th Pakistan time, the equivalent of 12 hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time, the two had made it to Camp 3, and today planned to trek their way to the 26,247-foot-high Camp 4.

Depending on the weather conditions, and their chances of success on the Abruzzi Route, there may be an attempt at pushing the summit today.

And here’s the sad news via Everest News:

Fredrik Ericsson was attempting the summit of K2. The weather forecast was stated to be excellent. Some climbers did not believe the forecast. It was clear when Fredrik left for the summit. But then a very strong storm moved in. The forecast was very very wrong.

All Abruzzi climbers have turned around and headed down the mountain. They are very sad. Fredrik Ericsson was a friend to many.

We have been told Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner turned and returned to camp 4. We have no other knowledge on her summit attempt. She did not summit. Trey Cook, Fredrik Ericsson climbing partner, also attempted the summit but turned back after a few hours into the attempt.

This comes quickly on the heels of another ski mountaineering death. Tahoe local, Arne Backstrom, took a fatal fall during a day out on Pisco in Peru’s Cordillera Blanca (which I climbed back in 2007). Makes me wonder sometimes if it’s all worth it…