Andrzej Bargiel Aims to Ski Everest This Fall Without Oxygen

Polish big mountain skier Andrzej Bargiel will be attempting to ski Everest this year, aiming to be the first to ski from the summit (8,849 metres) to base camp (5,364 metres) without supplemental oxygen.

This is part of his Hic Sunt Leones project, following successful ski descents on peaks like K2, Shishapangma, and Manaslu. His third attempt on Everest, after failed bids in 2019 (due to a dangerous serac) and 2022 (high winds at the South Col), began last month. Bargiel and his team, including a doctor, physiotherapist, safety manager, veteran climber Dariusz Załuski, and his brother Bartek as drone operator, travelled from Warsaw to Kathmandu, then trekked from Lukla to base cap for acclimatization.

Opting for the fall season to avoid spring crowds, Bargiel seeks stable post-monsoon snow conditions, despite deeper snow complicating the climb. He emphasizes climate change’s impact, noting warming temperatures may soon make such descents impossible.

Bargiel’s strategy leverages lessons from past attempts, focusing on precise timing for a mid-September weather window. Success would surpass partial descents like Davo Karničar’s (2000, with oxygen) and Hans Kammerlander’s (1996, without oxygen, starting 300 metres below the summit). The team’s progress hinges on weather and on-site decisions for summit camps. Follow along below.