The Atlas Obscura Podcast Frozen Dead Guy (Classic)
Nov 24, 2025
Brad Wickham, a local resident of Nederland, Colorado, shares captivating tales from his years as the caretaker of Bredo Mostel, a frozen Norwegian grandfather. He describes Bredo's unique journey from Norway to a shed in the mountains. The discussion dives into the fascinating world of cryonics and how a community festival, Frozen Dead Guy Days, sprung up around Bredo's story, featuring coffin races and whimsical winter events. Brad reflects on the emotional ties he formed while maintaining Bredo and the upcoming move to a new home at the Stanley Hotel.
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Grandson Moves Grandpa For Cryonics
- Trigvi transported his grandfather Bredo from Norway to Los Angeles for cryogenic preparation and later moved his body to a shed in Nederland, Colorado.
- The coffin was kept near -100°F using dry ice, styrofoam, and plywood with dry ice replaced every two weeks.
Caretakers Kept The Routine Going
- After the family was deported, Nederland locals hired caretakers to replace dry ice and maintain the shed, a job Brad later took in 2014.
- Brad did the work for small pay while rebuilding his life, trekking up the mountain every two weeks regardless of weather.
Grueling Two‑Week Dry Ice Routine
- Brad describes the physical routine: hauling 900–1,200 pounds of dry ice up the mountain and packing it around the metal coffin in all conditions.
- He performed the task every two weeks, even in heavy snow and high winds, which became increasingly taxing over time.
