Chamonix, France (Tuesday, May 31, 2005) - The Karakorams in Pakistan contains some of the most spectacular mountains in the world. Here you’ll find Laila Peak (6614 m, 21,700 ft), which is said to be one of the most beautiful mountains in Asia. No one is known to have ever skied that mountain before. Swede Fredrik Ericsson and Norwegian Jörgen Aamot are taking on that challenge this summer, as they will try to descend the steep slopes of Laila Peak for the first time on skis.

That’s not all, for after Laila Peak they will continue up the Baltoro Valley to make an attempt to ski a previously unskied line on Gasherbrum 2 (8035 m, 26,362 ft), the 13th highest mountain in the world.

Ericsson is a skier and mountaineer who's lately spending most of his time in the mountains around Chamonix, France. He has gained a reputation as one of the top ski mountaineers in the world after ski descents of Shisha Pangma (8013 m, 26,289 ft) in Tibet and Peak Somoni (7495 m, 24,590 ft) in Tajikistan. He has also completed first ski descents in Sarek National Park, Spitsbergen and the Hurrungane mountains in Norway. This year he’s looking forward to ski his second 8000-meter peak.

Aamot grew up in the mountains of Oppdal, Norway, and he's currently teaching skiing, climbing and avalanche awareness at the Hallingdal College in Gol, Norway. During the last few years he’s gathered multiple first ski descents throughout Norway in the Lyngen Alps, Hurrungane and Sunndalen Alps. This will be his first encounter with the high mountains of Karakoram.

On June 8, Ericsson and Aamot will fly to Islamabad in Pakistan. After a few days of sorting out permits and making general preparations they will continue north to the Karakoram Mountains. First they will travel with jeeps via Skardu to Hushe, and then continue from there on foot. Porters will assist in carrying gear up to Laila Peak Base Camp, which they will reach after seven days. Their plan is to reach the top of Laila Peak after several weeks acclimatizing to the altitude before trying to ski the steep west face of Laila Peak, something that’s never been done before.

After Laila Peak the pair will continue up the Baltoro Valley via Gondogoro pass and Concordia to the Gasherbrum Glacier, at 5,200 meters (17,060 feet) the location of the Gasherbrum Base Camp. They've allowed themselves a few weeks to try to climb Gasherbrum 2 and descend the mountain via a previously unskied line.