Cecilie Skog has reached the top of Kosciuszko in Australia, and now she has completed all the 7 Summits!

2006-02-23

Cecilie is the third Norwegian to reach all the 7 Summits, and the first lady in Norway and Scandinavia to reach all the 7 Summits. It`s a milestone in her life. The Seven Summits are the highest peaks on each continent: Mount Everest, Aconcagua, McKinley, Kilimanjaro, Elbrus, Vinson, Carstensz Pyramid or, Koskiusko. She has been working on this project for seven years, and finally in the beginning of February 2006 she accomplished the last top. There is a debate on whether Kosciuszko should be the highest peak for Oceania. Anyway Cecilie made an attemp on Carstensz Pyramid in West Papua - Irian Jaya in Indonesia, but she had to return due to threats from a guerrilla group in the jungle. Therefore she went to Australia to complete the Seven Summits by reaching the top of Australia`s tallest mountain.

Photo. Cecilie on her way to reach the top of Carstensz Pyramid in West Papua - Irian Jaya. That was before she was forced to return. Fortunately Cecilie didn`t give up, and went to Australia instead for completing the 7 Summits by reaching the top of Kosciuszko. © Cecilie Skog`s website: www.CecilieSkog.com.

Cecilie Skog is the third Norwegian to complete the 7 Summits. Arne Næss Jr. (1994) og Ralph Høibakk (1992) have accomplished the 7 Summits earlier. Cecilie is also the first lady in Norway and Scandinavia who has made it.

According Cecilie`s website (www.CecilieSkog.com), she used 7 years to accomplish the project:

1999 - Aconcagua, 6962 moh - Sør Amerika
2000 - Denali, 6194 moh - Nord Amerika
2003 - Elbrus, 5642 moh - Europa
2004 - Kilimanjaro, 5895 moh - Afrika
2004 - Everest, 8850 moh - Asia
2005 - Vinson, 4897 moh - Antarktis
2006 - Kosciuszko, 2228 moh - Oceania

The 7th summit is argued to be either Carstensz Pyramid or Kosciuszko. It depends on whether West Papua - Irian Jaya is to be considered as part of Oceania or Asia. Anyway both summits are commenly accepted as among the 7 Summits. So by reaching the top of one of these mountains should be sufficient to be listed on the 7 Summit list for climbers.

Mount Kosciuszko is located in the Snowy Mountains in Kosciuszko National Park, which is one of the most popular national parks in Australia. It attracts around three million visitors each year. The park was named by the Polish explorer Count Paul Strzelecki in 1840. It was to honour the Polish national hero General Tadeusz Kosciuszko. As Australia`s highest mountain, Mount Kosciuszko rise 2228 metres over the ocean.

According to EverestNews.com (www.everestnews.com): the shortest time for the Seven Summits to be completed with Kosciusko is just seven months, by Rob Hall (counting his second ascent of Vinson) and Gary Ball (both New Zealand). The shortest time for the Seven Summits to be completed with Carstensz is 297 days, by the British Andrew Salter.

What`s the next big challenge for Cecilie Skog?

In the end of February, she travels together with Rolf Bae og Per Henry Borch (PH) to Canada. Their aim is to march together from Canada`s coast towards the North Pole.

Stein Morten Lund, 23 February 2006

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