Andrzej Bargiel Completes First Continuous Ski Descent of Nanga Parbat

The feat marks the culmination of a decade-long pursuit of 8,000-metre peaks across Pakistan. Bargiel departed Base Camp at 4,200 metres on June 28, ascending through camps at 6,200 and 6,850 metres without supplemental oxygen. Upon reaching the summit two days later, he spent 45 minutes assessing conditions before transitioning to his skis. His route followed the Messner line, where he expertly bypassed a complex serac barrier that has historically forced other mountaineers to abandon their skis.

Completing the descent at 3 p.m. below Camp I, Bargiel spent two hours navigating the mountain’s lethal death zone above 7,900 metres. The entire round trip from base camp took two days and nine hours. Bargiel noted that the project’s success hinged on precise timing and favorable mountain conditions. This achievement adds Nanga Parbat to his prestigious list of oxygen-free ski descents, which already includes K2, Broad Peak, Everest, and both Gasherbrum summits.