Jim Morrison Becomes First to Ski Down Everest’s Hornbein Couloir
In a groundbreaking moment for mountaineering and ski history, world-renowned ski mountaineer Jim Morrison has become the first person ever to ski down the Hornbein Couloir on Mount Everest’s direct north face — one of the most coveted and dangerous lines in the world.
After reaching the 8,848-meter (29,000-foot) summit, Morrison completed the record-setting descent in just over four hours, covering 2,760 meters (9,055 feet) before arriving safely at Camp One (6,088 meters / 19,974 feet) at 7:45 p.m. China Standard Time on October 15, 2025. The historic run fulfilled a long-shared dream between Morrison and his late partner, Hilaree Nelson, to whom he dedicated the achievement.
“Standing on the north face of Everest, finishing this climb was overwhelming and deeply personal,” Morrison said from the mountain. “Climbing the direct north face and skiing what Hilaree and I believed to be the world’s greatest ski run was a dream we chased together. I hope what we accomplished honors her and the love for these mountains we shared.”
A Historic Descent on a Legendary Route
The Hornbein Couloir, a near-mythic gash on Everest’s sheer north face, has been climbed only a handful of times since its first ascent in 1963 by American alpinist Thomas Hornbein. Steep, remote, and relentlessly exposed, the couloir has long been considered one of the world’s most dangerous and prestigious mountaineering objectives. Until Morrison’s descent, no one had ever skied it successfully.
The expedition began from China’s North Base Camp, following the central Rongbuk Glacier before tackling the 2,743-meter (9,000-foot) north wall leading into the couloir. Among Morrison’s climbing team were fellow mountaineer and filmmaker Jimmy Chin, Erich Roepke, Pemba Sharwa Sherpa, Esteban “Topo” Mena, Carla Perez, Roberto “Tico” Morales, Pur Bahadur “Yukta” Gurung, Ngima Tenjing Sherpa, Pemba Gelje Sherpa, Tenging Gyaljen Sherpa, and Pasang Sona Sherpa. While several teammates summited alongside Morrison, he was the only one to complete the ski descent.
The Film: Everest North
The expedition was documented by National Geographic Documentary Films, reuniting Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, the Oscar® and BAFTA-winning duo behind Free Solo. Their upcoming film, Everest North (working title), will chronicle Morrison’s emotional and physical journey — from personal loss to the ultimate realization of his and Hilaree’s dream.
“We are truly grateful to be able to climb and film on such a rarely visited and stunning side of Everest,” said Chin. “This film will capture the first ski descent of the most iconic line in mountaineering and what it took to get there — a story about the power of the human spirit.”
Producer Shannon Dill, who previously worked on Free Solo, led the film’s on-ground production, while Carolyn Bernstein, executive vice president of Documentary Films for National Geographic, called the project “a testament to the power and beauty of exploration.”
A Legacy Continued
Morrison and Nelson were no strangers to redefining limits. In 2018, the pair became the first to ski from the summit of Lhotse (8,516 meters / 27,940 feet), the world’s fourth-highest mountain. Nelson, a National Geographic Explorer and Adventurer of the Year, tragically died in 2022 on Manaslu in Nepal. Morrison’s latest climb, he said, was not only about pushing boundaries but also honoring the legacy they built together.
“Hilaree’s spirit and energy were a galvanizing force for me and this incredible team,” Morrison said. “This descent is for her.”
The full story of Jim Morrison’s record-breaking Everest ski descent can be read at NatGeo.com.
