Veikka Gustafsson, the first north European to climb all 14 over 8000m giant mountains in the world, 9th person to climb all of them without supplementary oxygen, 17th person over all to climb those biggest mountains in the world including those who have used bottled oxygen in the summit push.

Radio Suomi, YLE understood the historic meaning and magnitude of Veikka’s 8K project. The Mikael Jungner lead YLE and it’s Finnish National Radio Suomi covered the last year’s Gasherbrum II and Broad Peak summits and Gasherbrum I’s try out. … and the whole this year’s  project’s Grand Finale. Kirsi Väänänen and her team had their eyes open. Thank you.

The other Finnish media did not have a clue what was going on. If there is not a bouncing ball, puck or a set of squealing wheels included, of course the understanding of a reporter is challenged and knowledge is equivalent to sack of potatoes. Historic moments can pass you by unnoticed, pathetic.

Veikka was a celebrated and honored quest at Radio Suomi, YLE. A mountain climber’s cake for starters. “There was a lot snow on G1, but I was never buried in it as this climber is”, laughed Veikka.

Roses of course.

Present from a fan. Warm husky socks hit the spot.