Historic Ski Descent on Mount Everest

This week, American skier and mountaineer Jim Morrison achieved a remarkable milestone by becoming the first person to ski down the North Face of Mount Everest. He tackled one of the most challenging routes available in the mountains.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who is 50 years old, completed this notable descent on Wednesday, tackling a daunting 9,000 feet down to the Rombuk Glacier in just over four hours. He descended nearly vertically from the towering 29,032-foot peak. This event coincided with the release of Morrison’s upcoming documentary journey.

The path he chose, known as the Hornbein and Japanese couloirs, is not just difficult; it’s steep, icy, narrow, and notorious for avalanches. His descent marks a significant first due to these challenges.

Scott Morrison dedicated this incredible accomplishment to his partner, the renowned mountaineer Hilary Nelson, who tragically lost her life in a fall near the summit of Mt. Manaslu in Nepal in 2022.

“I had a little conversation with her and felt like I could dedicate the whole day to her,” he shared. There was a moment, he recalled, when he crossed the Bergschrund and found himself overcome with emotion. “I took such a risk, but I was alive. It felt like a tribute to Hilary; something she would be proud of. I really felt she was with me, cheering for me.”

Before this successful attempt, Morrison had tried to ski this route twice, but he was thwarted by various issues and the treacherous weather conditions. Finally, with permission about to expire, this time he made it.

He described the descent as “a combination of survival skiing and actual shredding.” It’s pretty impressive, right? Just a few weeks ago, Polish skier Andrzej Bargiel also made headlines with a record-setting ski run on Mount Everest—this time, without using supplemental oxygen.