Lasting impressions
15/8/03 Kuksay Peak, 7184 m, Chinese Karakoram - Skiing of Summit, solo Kuksay Peak is situated north of Muztagh Ata. Due to illness Tormod and Tomas where unable to climb this peak together. Tormod ended up climbing solo in a single push lasting +24 hours roundtrip from Base Camp. The climb involved 3000 meters of vertical gain. "Never have I pushed myself so far, and never ever felt so alone as on the summit of this peak, being the only person on the mountain at that time. What I remember is the star spangled night-sky as I took on the upper part of the mountain."
7/8/03 Muztagh Ata, 7546 m, Chinese Karakoram - Skiing of Summit Muztagh Ata rises over the wast highland of Karakoram. Teaming up with Tomas Olsson, Tormod Granheim climbed the mountain in a four day alpine-style push. "Reaching the summit, and putting on the skis at + 7500 meters was a dream coming true."
14/7/03 Mont Blanc, 4810 m - Skiing of Summit, Chamonix @ 40 - 45, solo 50 years after the 1st descent of the mountain, Tormod Granheim soloed the peak in a 4 hour effort from the Aiguille du Midi. A nice warmup before heading to the Karakoram. "I was merely heading for Mont Blanc du Tacul, but felt strong and the weather was unbelievable. A few hours later I reached the high point of Western Europe. And made it back to Chamonix for a late lunch."
7/5/03 Mont Blanc du Tacul, 4248 m - Couloir du Diable, 800 m of vert. Chamonix @ 50 - 55 Big, steep and scary. But on the other hand seductively beautiful. Among the steepest runs Tormod Granheim has skied to date. "The massive rimaye, and an abseil in the goulotte near the bottom added commitment to this special run."
5/5/03 Tour Ronde, 3792 m - Face Nord, 350 m of vert. Chamonix @ 50-55, solo The most beautiful of North Faces? 1st descended by the true legend Patric Vallencant. Alone and exposed at the top of the face Tormod experienced one of the best days of skiing in his career. "Perfect snow, blue sky and skiing over the abyss. What more could I wish for?"
26/1/02 Aconcagua, 6962 m - Polish Glacier Direct, 1100 m of vert, Argentina @ 45-55 - Skiing of Summit This route was fist climbed in 1961. Tormod Granheim made the 1st norwegian descent after traversing the mountain. "Aconcagua is the highest mountain outside of the Himalayas, and got a bad reputation for wicked storms. We felt a few gusts during our time there."
7/5/01 Aiguille du Midi, 3842 m - Face Nord, Mallory-Porter, 1200 m of vert. Chamonix @ 55-60 This stunning line was 1st ascended by George L- Mallory of Everest fame. "I had been dreaming of skiing this particular line for such a long time. It plunges down right in front of the cable-car, so everyone riding the tram at a regular basis gets to know it by hart. When I finally got to it, conditions was perfect, and I enjoyed every moment. I kept an axe handy, but never touched it."
6/5/01 Aiguille du Midi, 3842 m - Face Nord, Couloir Eugster, 1200 m of vert. Chamonix @ 50-55, solo, 1st cordless day Visited by some 600.000 people every year the Aiguille du Midi is one busily place. Nevertheless word on the street is that it's North-face has only seen a two digit number of ski-descents since the very first as early as 1977. According to the Grand Old Man, Pierre Tardivel, no one had ever skied this route without the use of an abseil-rope. Until this particular day. Climbing over rocks, on your bare steel edges, and letting go, stomping landings in the hart of such a mountain face commands 100% commitment. The experience forever changed me."

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