Everest

Adventures of a mother of 7 – Johanna Gustafsson

Because it's there!

When 8 years old I learned about Mount Everest, and ever since I have dreamed about climbing up there. When I became middle-aged and sensible I thought that it's impossible.

2012 when I turned 50 I suddenly got this crazy idea to fulfill my childhood dream. Now, almost 2 years later, after studying, training, researching & finding solutions, it seems possible!

If things go well I will summit in May 2014, if things don't go well I will hopefully do it another year. If you want to follow me vie e-mail updates you can subscribe to them.

In Lapland training in -35 C

Today it is so cold that there are no possibilities to go skiing. In the morning -35 degrees C. The reason why skiing is impossible is that the skis just don't glide, it's like gliding on sandpaper.

So I decided to go snow shoeing. Up to the Kesänki fell. Not so high, in Finland we don't have really high places, but the circumstances are pretty harsh and heavy anyway: 

Selfie on top of Kesänki at -35 C, about 3 PM

Selfie on top of Kesänki at -35 C, about 3 PM

  • It's dark (in Lapland there's no sunshine anymore this time of year, not for 5 weeks where I was),
  • Cold (-35 and reasonable wind chill factor makes it really chilly)
  • Isolated (nobody else there, people are not crazy enough to go out there at this weather & time of year)

I survived and I am happy about that. Sauna, back to the coldness skinnydipping in the snow from the sauna, then sauna again. That´s life. 

The days earlier I was participating in ski-orienteering, here is the winner, Tove Alexandersson, at the finish. She currently wins everything in orienteering, summer and winter.

Johanna Gustafsson – the Everest project