The Story of how Mount Everest came to be the dream of her life
This expedition is set out as the first mission in history with the goal of a permanently built Rescue Station at Base Camp on Mount Everest. Kristina has been invited to work with, and assist the team and carries important equipment for the rescue team in her backpack. When the idea of trekking to Everest came to mind, there was the celebration of Edmund Hillary that first appeared. But when the invitation came from Tomas and Tina Sjögren at ExplorersWeb in New York to assist MD Luanne Freyer in her work on High Altitude Symptoms, all parts of the puzzle fell into place.
All the years of preparing for an unusual mission have now come to the point of realization.
A mission like this doesn't happen by itself. Therefore Kristina has done her preparations in an almost military manner.
Preparation:
Physical Training
Eight times a week in a varied program: Boxersize, boxing, aerobic, spinning, -body pump, running and light mountain climbing. The trainers at Nautilus Physics Club in Uppsala, Sweden, have been very supportive. Eating good homecooking has been very important for weight increase in muscles and energy fat. Not to mention the positive effects of occasional chocolates!
Mental Training
Meditation as a relaxation together with her music interest as a trumpet player has given her the steady balance of work-recreation-studying-training.
Equipment preparation
All equipment for climbing had to be acquired since this mission demands durable equipment and clothing. New equipment for sending daily dispatches of text and pictures has been tested in preparation.
Communication preparation
Communicating the efforts and experiences in Nepal to a broad audience requires a broad spectra of technology (such as satellite phone, iPAC's and digital cameras) and people (from press manager to webmaster). This is a complicated machinery that need tender care.
Ever since my last year at the Cathedral School of Uppsala in 2000, I have had a dream of encountering the feeling of grandness at the top of the world. The student planning had set out the direction for a path of creating interest and learning by experience. Not to fully follow Mark Twain in his saying: "Schooling has never been a hindrance in my education", but to add unusual influences or marks in my track record.
Fast movements and daring slides that give a butterfly-feeling in the stomach have always been a challenge for me since I was born. Not to mention when I was three and sat on our roof top of our first home by Lake Mälaren in Sweden and watched the many international ships pass.
As a student at the Uppsala University, one has to take part in the festivities and celebrations. The first GASK is always an experience that etches a memory in one's life.
The dream of taking on the battle with the elements, snow and ice, came early in the planning after the graduation in year 2000. The top of the world has a lot of snow and ice and there are no hotels on that elevation. In order to prepare for the rough parts, one has to train in a simulated environment. The snow igloo in my backyard became my home for a couple of nights. It was cold but educational.
Many of the explorers that have been on high altitude claim that the snow is sometimes the carrier for a climb downhill. The Icefall at Everest is a perfect slide in the spring, so I had to practice for that as well.
The couple that gave me the opportunity to participate in this expedition must have a special credit and will have a big part in my heart forever. Tomas and Tina Sjögren have climbed to the top, skied unsupported to the South Pole and the North Pole. Tina is the only woman that has done all three poles: S-and N-pole and Mount Everest. When we first met, I felt the warmth from both of you and I know that you support me all the way through and in coming missions.
Thank you for taking me on board!
