Sad news is begining to filter out of Norway of the death of two of the countries leading alpinists Bjørn-Eivind Årtun and Stein-Ivar Gravdal. The pair had been attempting a new route at Kjerag in Lysefjorden, Norway, when the emergency services were alerted after they missed their planned return date of Thursday. A rescue helicopter spotted the pair hanging 100m above screes and a recovery of the bodies was planned for today (Saturday).

Bjørn-Eivind Årtun on Dracula his and Colin Haley's exceptional new route on Foraker Copyright Colin Haley/Cold Thistle

Both climbers were recognised as amongst the World's best ice climbers and the ice route Strandhogg (800m, M5+ WI6+ A0) that they established together in February in 2009 on Kjerag showed their level of skill and verve with its huge runouts at a time when others were resorting to bolt protection to tame similar challenges. Away from their home country both climbers excelled with Stein-Ivar Gravdal having made the second ascent of the Norweigen route on Great Trango Tower in 2008 and Bjørn-Eivind Årtun having just returned from Patagonia where he made the first ascent of an oustanding new route on the South Face of Torre Egger.

Source coldthistle.blogspot.com