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American alpinist Jim Morrison is once again challenging the formidable slopes of Mount Everest's North Face, aiming for a complete ski descent. This ambitious expedition, documented by renowned filmmaker Jimmy Chin, is deeply personal for Morrison, as it honors the memory of his late wife, Hilaree Nelson, a pioneering ski mountaineer who died during a Manaslu descent. The team, including a formidable group of Sherpa guides, has established an early camp and is now awaiting favorable conditions to advance. Concurrently, Polish skier Andrzej Bargiel is pursuing a similar feat on Everest's Nepali side, seeking a no-oxygen ascent followed by a full ski descent, underscoring a season of bold ski mountaineering endeavors on the world's highest peak.

This marks Morrison's third attempt at the Everest ski descent, with prior efforts hampered by bureaucratic hurdles and unforeseen accidents. Despite these setbacks, his resolve remains steadfast, fueled by a desire to complete the tribute to Nelson. The chosen route, potentially the extremely steep Hornbein Couloir, highlights the expedition's audacious nature. The presence of highly experienced Sherpa guides, critical to the success and safety of such high-altitude ventures, reinforces the serious commitment to this challenging project.

Jim Morrison's Everest Ski Descent and the Legacy of Hilaree Nelson

American skier Jim Morrison is making a determined return to the Tibetan side of Mount Everest, aiming to achieve a full ski descent. This monumental undertaking is more than just an athletic challenge; it is a profound homage to his late wife, Hilaree Nelson, an accomplished ski mountaineer who tragically perished during a ski descent of Manaslu in 2022. Oscar-winning filmmaker Jimmy Chin is on hand to capture this deeply personal and ambitious journey, with the project receiving significant backing from the National Geographic Society and The North Face. The team, which includes highly skilled IFMGA guides like Pemba Gelje Sherpa and Pemba Wongchu Sherpa, along with Tibetan guides, has already set up Camp 2, showcasing their initial progress and readiness for the ascent.

This current expedition represents Morrison's third endeavor to ski down Everest, with previous attempts in 2023 and 2024 having been curtailed by various obstacles, including logistical issues and an accident involving local guides near Camp 2 last year. The team's present focus is on establishing the necessary infrastructure and waiting for suitable weather to fix ropes above Camp 2. While the exact descent route is yet to be confirmed, Morrison's aspiration last year was to tackle the perilous Hornbein Couloir, a notoriously steep line on the North Face. This choice underscores the extreme technical demands and inherent risks of the expedition, emphasizing the climbers' exceptional skill and courage in pursuing such an challenging tribute.

Dual Everest Ski Expeditions: A Season of High-Altitude Ambition

This climbing season witnesses an extraordinary convergence of ambition on Mount Everest, with two separate teams attempting full ski descents from different sides of the mountain. In addition to Jim Morrison's quest on the North Face, Polish ski mountaineer Andrzej Bargiel is embarking on an equally formidable challenge from the Nepali side. Bargiel's goal is to summit Everest without supplementary oxygen and then execute a complete ski descent, a feat he has previously accomplished on other formidable peaks such as K2 and the Gasherbrums. His team is meticulously documenting their progress, providing regular updates on their acclimatization efforts and reconnaissance of potential ski lines above the treacherous Khumbu Icefall, which has been specially prepared for their passage.

The collective efforts of Morrison and Bargiel highlight a remarkable period in high-altitude ski mountaineering, pushing the boundaries of human endurance and skill. Morrison's team benefits from the expertise of seasoned Sherpa guides, instrumental in navigating the harsh Himalayan environment and ensuring safety. These "Super Sherpas," including the internationally accredited Pemba Gelje Sherpa, bring invaluable experience in high-altitude climbing and rescue. Their involvement, alongside the advanced filming capabilities of Jimmy Chin, underscores the intricate planning and extensive support required for such pioneering expeditions. As both teams progress, the world watches eagerly to see if these audacious attempts to ski from the summit of Everest will redefine what is possible in extreme sports and honor the legacies of those who have inspired them.