Skiing Everest T2B including the Khumbu

[Harvey]

I haven't watched a 10 minute video through to completion, maybe ever.

This video is 31 minutes, and I was glued to the whole thing.

Andrzej Bargiel skis Everest from the summit to base camp.

The whole thing is incredible, but to me the most compelling part is navigating the Khumbu Icefall, with the help of a drone operated by his brother. I believe the icefall was skied one other time, in 2000. Without a drone, I assume.

Most won't watch, but some, with mountaineering experience might really enjoy it.

Be curious to know who watches the whole thing.

 

[Ripitz]

I’ve watched the whole thing. That guy rips. No oxygen is hardcore.

 

[Campgottagopee]

Too many ways to die doing that shit

 

[Harvey]

I am not surprised at the first comment @Ripitz

Too many ways to die doing that shit

I'm not saying I wish I could ski it. Just that it's an amazing film, that gripped me.

So many problems to solve (with an oxygen-starved brain).

 

[Campgottagopee]

Just that it's an amazing film, that gripped me.

It was. I couldn't watch the helmet cam part where he was skiing down that ridge. It made me dizzy.

 

[wonderpony]

Wow.

 

[SlowPokePete]

Gonna have to revisit this after dinner when I have time to watch.

SPP

 

[JTG]

Thanks for posting. I can’t imagine anyone who starts the video could possibly turn away. Compelling, harrowing, frightening, awe inspiring. There aren’t enough superlatives!

Of course, I do have a few observations.

Obviously any REAL skier would have done that run top to bottom nonstop! Oh, and what’s with the Nepalese Government? At 10:30 he hits a rock that sends him for a tumble. They gotta do better with their snowmaking and grooming! Seriously though, that was pretty cool, absolutely amazing.

I’m a hack. While I’ve skied a lot of ‘you fall and you are gonna get hurt really bad’ spots, in my skiing life I’ve only faced two no fall zones, either climbing up or skiing down, where you fall and you die. Once on the Shuksan Elbow and once when submitting Mount Superior. Those are moments that shape lives. That’s what makes the first 10 minutes so truly harrowing to me. The amount of exposure he was above, for the length of time he was above it, after, you know, summiting Everest without oxygen, pushing the limits of survivable time in the death zone, barely able to breath, much less think….and he’s skiing for his life.

Just when you think it’s getting better a slab pulls out behind him at 11:15. Again, Nepal gotta up their avy control game!

The next 5 minutes starts to look dreamy…until the snow gets crusty while darkness and death approach if he doesn’t make it to Camp 2.

Man, I’m glad he had the recovery night at Camp 2 to regain his breath and his wits. That whole Khumbu section is nuts, so many ways to die in there. When he dropped his pole in that freaking hole…with what was still ahead he really didn’t have a choice but to retrieve it, but that was frightening. Then, at 23:45, being told your planned route collapsed, no way through. Scary. I love me some route finding but getting past that was incredible. Even when he gets near the end you gotta go down this…

Seriously?

That guy is certifiable, but way cool and a great watch.