The “Crazy Swede” Who Cycled 8,000 Miles From Sweden to Mt. Everest, Climbed It Unsupported Without Oxygen, Then Cycled Back Home

With his 108 kilograms (238 lb) of gear…

Have you ever heard of Göran Kropp? If not, you were missing out on one of the most amazing and inspiring stories of adventure and endurance ever told. Göran Kropp was a Swedish adventurer and mountaineer who achieved incredible feats of physical and mental strength, such as being the first Scandinavian to climb Mount Everest without oxygen, and cycling from Sweden to Nepal and back with all his gear to do so.

Göran Kropp was born in Jönköping, Sweden, in 1966. He developed a passion for climbing at an early age, and by the time he was 22, he had already climbed several high peaks in Asia and South America.

Kropp was not a typical climber. He had a rebellious and unconventional spirit that led him to challenge himself in extreme ways. He did not like to follow the rules or the norms of the climbing community and preferred to climb solo, without oxygen or Sherpa support, carrying all his own equipment. He also liked to combine his climbing expeditions with other modes of transportation – such as riding his bike across continents.

Göran Kropp’s most famous adventure was his 1995-1996 trip to Mount Everest. He decided to cycle from Stockholm to Kathmandu, a distance of about 8,000 miles (13,000 km), pulling all his gear weighing 108 kilograms (238 lb) on a trailer. He left Sweden in October 1995 and arrived in Nepal in January 1996, after a four-month and six-day trip crossing Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan and India.

He used a modified mountain bike equipped with touring bike components. His bike had slick tires for quick replacements, a luggage rack for carrying bags, lights for safety, and an improved gearshift for easier riding. Since it was an unsupported ride, he had to carry everything he needed, except for food, to the base of Mt. Everest, totaling 7,693 miles.

Finding suitable food was challenging as a vegetarian, and he had to be selective in his choices from restaurants and other sources along the way. Despite trying different options, he still lost 22 lbs on the journey. He encountered numerous hardships, including fixing 132 flat tires, intentional threats from drivers, harassment by locals, ridicule, dog chases, stone-throwing incidents, and even being assaulted by a baseball bat.

In addition to his unsupported bike journey to Nepal, he aimed to solo summit Everest without oxygen or Sherpa support for equipment. Upon reaching his destination, he left his bike at a hotel and carried 143 lbs of climbing equipment to Everest Base Camp.

On May 3rd, he was just a couple of hundred meters from the summit but got stuck in waist-deep snow. With darkness approaching, he decided to trust his instincts and turn back to base camp as it was too late in the day and if he continued, he would be descending in the dark.

While convalescing at base camp, a devastating blizzard struck, resulting in the 1996 Mount Everest Disaster that claimed eight lives and was later chronicled in Jon Krakauer’s bestseller, “Into Thin Air.” Kropp assisted the relief team in recovering the trekkers, and the experience deeply affected him. However, his indomitable determination drove him forward. On May 26, 1996, he embarked on his second attempt and successfully reached the summit of Everest unassisted, standing atop the world.

After this remarkable achievement, one might expect him to rest, but instead, he immediately hopped on his bicycle and pedaled the entire 7,693 miles back home to Sweden, after briefly celebrating by drinking a can of beer that he had buried in the snow at Camp II.

When he got home exactly one year after he set off, he had covered a total of 16,000 miles (26,000 km) by bike and climbed the highest mountain in the world without oxygen or support. He had spent a total of $5,000 on the whole trip, compared to the $65,000 that most climbers pay for an Everest expedition.

But his adventures didn’t end there. In 2000, Kropp and fellow Swede Ola Skinnarmo aimed to ski to the North Pole without support. However, Kropp had to abandon the expedition due to frostbite in his thumb. During the trip, he shot a polar bear that had been following them. This incident led to accusations in the Swedish tabloid press, with writer Jan Guillou labeling Kropp a poacher, arguing that shooting polar bears was an expected outcome of skiing to the North Pole. Kropp sued for defamation but lost the case and subsequently chose to relocate to Seattle, USA.

Sadly, it was there, near his Seattle home, that Göran Kropp died in 2002 at the age of 35. He fell from a rock climbing route in a tragic accident that ended the life of a remarkable man.

He left behind his wife Renata Chlumska, who continued his legacy by becoming the first woman to circumnavigate the lower 48 states of the USA by kayak and bike in 2005-2007.

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He also left behind a book called Ultimate High: My Everest Odyssey, which tells his story in his own words – a fascinating and inspiring read-

Göran Kropp’s story is inspiring because it shows what a human being can achieve with determination, courage and creativity. He did not let anything stop him from pursuing his dreams. He faced many challenges and dangers along the way, such as bad weather, illness, injury, robbery, war zones, avalanches and frostbite. He also faced criticism and skepticism from some people who thought he was crazy or irresponsible. But he never gave up or compromised his vision.

He also inspired many people with his positive attitude and his generosity. He was always smiling and joking, even in the most difficult situations. He was friendly and respectful to everyone he met on his journey, regardless of their culture or religion. He also donated some of his gear and money to local schools and hospitals in Nepal and Pakistan.

He was a true adventurer who lived life to the fullest and followed his own path.

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4