A friend and colleague Mats Ryde recently sent me this video, vimeo/112071116 Snows of the Nile is a great film that illustrates the melting tropical glaciers in Africa. Over 12 years ago i was fortunate enough to climb these amazing mountains with amazing friends. John Culshaw Per Löfgren, Anders Carlson and the late great explorer Hendri Coetzee. What started off as a dream, i organized an expedition to the Mountains of the Moon after a classmate of mine in a Swedish for immigrants course told me about mystical mountains in his home country of Uganda. The national park had been closed most of the previous decade due to violent guerrilla rebels from neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo. After many years of planning with sponsors, media and finance, we were allowed access to the mountains. Special thanks to Martin Kossler for helping us with Haglöfs. As the film shows, we trekked through green rainforests, bamboo forrests, crazy moss covered alpine trees, wet muddy bogs with Dr.Suess like flora up to the mountains and glaciers. The purpose of the expedition was not only to climb the peaks but also to slide down them! We made the first descents on snowboard and telemark of several peaks including the highest point. (There were no ladders when we climbed as in the film!) It was icy to say the least. The glaciers were bigger even a mear decade ago! The trip would not have been possible without the help of the mighty Bakonjo people, so incredibly strong and fast. A lot of familiar faces in this film. During our climb up Mt.Speke we took time to train the guides as it was the first time many had been on the snow! It was so cool to see in the film that Joseph, Masim & Joseph were still mountaineering as a trade. This expedition holds a special place in my mind & heart. This film showcases an unique environment that i hope stays wild and snows may remain.
Posted on: Sat, 03 Jan 2015 17:35:17 +0000