Rolf Bae
{{Short description|Norwegian Arctic adventurer and mountaineer (1975–2008)}}
{{use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Rolf Bae
| image =Rolf Bae (mountaineer).jpg
| caption = Rolf Bae
| birth_date = {{birth date|1975|1|9|df=y}}
| birth_place = Sandnes, Norway
| death_date = {{death date and age|2008|8|1|1975|1|9|df=y}}
| death_place = K2, Karakoram, Pakistan
| occupation = Adventurer, mountaineer
| website = [http://www.explorapoles.org/explorers/profile/bae_rolf/ http://www.explorapoles.org]
}}
Rolf Bae (9 January 1975 – 1 August 2008) was a Norwegian Arctic adventurer and mountaineer. Bae operated an adventure company called Fram,{{cite web|url=http://www.explorapoles.org/index.php?/polar_explorers/bae_rolf/&uid=48 |website=explorapoles.org|title=Rolf Bae|publisher= International Polar Foundation}} specializing in Arctic and Antarctic travel and survival courses. He died during an ascent of K2 in 2008.
Biography
In 2000/2001, Bae crossed Antarctica with fellow explorer Eirik Sønneland,{{cite web|url = http://www.newzeal.com/theme/bases/Norway/NorwegianPole.htm|title = NORWEGIAN SOUTH POLE EXPEDITION 2000-2001|website=newzeal.com|access-date = 2008-08-08}}{{cite web|url = http://www.mountwashington.org/publications/windswept/2001/42-1-Antarctic_Journal.php|title = Windswept – Antarctic Journal|website=mountwashington.org|access-date = 2008-08-08|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080720164455/http://www.mountwashington.org/publications/windswept/2001/42-1-Antarctic_Journal.php|archive-date = 20 July 2008|df = dmy-all}} completing what was then the world's longest ski journey, 3800 km long, taking 105 days to complete; the record was beaten by Rune Gjeldnes in 2006.
On 27 December 2005, he arrived at the South Pole,{{cite web|url = http://web3.aftenbladet.no/sport/article244945.ece|title = Mount Vinson neste for Bae og Skog |access-date = 2008-08-07|website=aftenbladet.no}} after skiing from the ice shelf, and on 24 April 2006, he reached the North Pole unsupported,{{cite web |url = http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article1292275.ece |title = Skog reaches North Pole |website= Aftenposten.no |access-date = 2008-08-07 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080813124220/http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article1292275.ece |archive-date = 13 August 2008 |df = dmy-all }} both expeditions together with Cecilie Skog, the first woman to complete the Explorers Grand Slam.
In 2008, Bae together with Stein-Ivar Gravdal, Bjarte Bø and Sigurd Felde reached the top of Great Trango Tower (6286 m) in Karakoram, Pakistan, via the "Norwegian Buttress" (VII 5.10+ A4). The team spent 27 days ascending and 30 hours descending the peak. This was the second complete ascent via this route.{{cite web |author=MacDonald, Dougald |url=http://www.climbing.com/news/hotflashes/norwegians_repeat_historic_trango_route/ |title=Norwegians Repeat Historic Trango Route |access-date=2008-08-07 |website=Climbing.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828033115/http://www.climbing.com/news/hotflashes/norwegians_repeat_historic_trango_route/ |archive-date=28 August 2008 |df=dmy-all }}
Death
Rolf Bae died on 1 August 2008, in a climbing accident while taking part in an international expedition on K2 mountain in which eleven climbers lost their lives.{{cite news|title=Climbers killed on K2|url=http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article2573189.ece|work=Aftenposten|date=August 4, 2008|access-date=2008-08-07|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080807023147/http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article2573189.ece|archive-date=7 August 2008|df=dmy-all}} His wife, experienced climber Cecilie Skog, reported seeing her husband swept off the mountain during an ice fall accident.{{cite news |first= Richard |last= Oakley |title= Seven climbers feared dead in ice fall on K2 |url= http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article4449712.ece |work= Times Online |date= August 3, 2008 |access-date=2008-08-07 }}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
Bae was a friend and teammate of Ger McDonnell, the first Irishman to summit K2. Both men died within hours of each other in separate avalanches on K2.
Personal life
He was married to Cecilie Skog. She has climbed the highest mountains of every continent (the Seven summits) in addition to reaching the South Pole in the first unassisted trek across Antarctica, and the North Pole.
See also
References
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Category:Natural disaster deaths in Pakistan
Category:Norwegian mountain climbers