October 30, 2018 A Farewell to the South Peak
Swedish fashion designer and adventurer’s last climb before global warming claims Sweden’s highest peak.
Sweden’s highest mountain, Kebnekaise, consists of two summits connected by a thin ridgeline: South and North peak. Ever since measurements began, the South peak has been the highest thanks to its ice cap, and has been officially registered as 2,103m (6,900ft). But climate change has made the ice cap – and thus the peak – begin to shrink. After this record-warm summer, on August 1st it was announced that the rocky North Peak, is now Sweden’s highest point at 2,097m (6,880ft).
Just a few days before the announcement, the Swedish fashion photographer and adventurer Emma Svensson climbed both of Kebnekaise’s peaks – dressed in a specially designed superhero costume. This was her second-last expedition in her project “49 Peaks,” where she became the first person to climb the highest points of every European country within one year. The previous record for this challenge was 835 days. After Kebnekaise, she finished up with a stroll up Luxemburg’s highest hill.
But her world-record took on a somewhat melancholy twist when the news of Sweden’s melted highest top broke out: “As an individual, one should always try to effect change and make the right choices. But to solve impending climate crises and the consequences they will involve – water shortages, drought, floods, climate refugees etc. – then we need global cooperation,” says Emma Svensson.
Photo: Emma Svensson
