Andrzej Bargiel Completes First Continuous Ski Descent of Nanga Parbat

Bargiel, 38, began his ascent on June 28, departing from the 4,200-meter Base Camp. He climbed through the Western Himalayas without bottled oxygen, establishing camps at 6,200 and 6,850 meters. After reaching the summit on June 30 and spending 45 minutes assessing the terrain, he transitioned to his skis to navigate the hazardous Messner Route. The descent required him to bypass a treacherous serac barrier that had historically forced previous expeditions to abandon their skis. He completed the line at 3 p.m. near the 4,400-meter mark, having spent two hours navigating the mountain’s death zone above 7,900 meters.

This feat marks the final chapter of a project Bargiel initiated in 2015 on Broad Peak. With this success, he becomes the first individual to climb and ski Broad Peak, K2, Gasherbrum I, Gasherbrum II, Everest, and Nanga Parbat entirely without supplemental oxygen. Attributing the achievement to precise timing and favorable mountain conditions, Bargiel noted that finding a safe, continuous route was the primary challenge of the expedition.