Morrison Skis Down Everest's North Face After Fatal Avalanche

More than 7,500 people have reached the 29,031-foot summit of Mount Everest, but ski mountaineer Jim Morrison was the first to descend the mountain's north face. His four-hour and five-minute run down the steep slope concluded a personal project that began with his late partner, Hilaree Nelson. The documentary Everest: The Other Side, directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, chronicles the attempt and its emotional toll.

Morrison and Nelson met in 2015 during an expedition to Makalu. They began a romantic relationship in 2017 and planned to ski down the direct north face of Everest, a 9,000-foot drop that represents the most technically difficult line on the mountain. The plan was to climb the route and then ski down, a feat no human had previously completed.

The project faced a critical setback on Sept. 26, 2022, when an avalanche on Mount Manaslu killed Nelson. The incident forced a pause in filming and led the team to question if the expedition should continue. Chin, a friend of the couple and an experienced climber, stepped in as Morrison's climbing partner. Morrison decided to proceed, citing the need to honor Nelson's legacy and their shared goal.

The first major expedition took place in 2024. The team established camps at various altitudes, including an advanced basecamp at 18,100 feet and camps near the Hornbein Couloir. The plan involved rotation climbs to acclimatize and move equipment up the mountain. The attempt ended early when team member Yukta Gurung broke his leg, and unfavorable weather conditions forced the group to withdraw.

Morrison returned to the mountain in September 2025. A team of 12 climbers, including Chin and the recovered Gurung, accompanied him. The expedition lasted seven weeks without injury or weather interruptions. On Oct. 15, 2025, the group reached the summit. Morrison spent 45 minutes at the top, where he scattered some of Nelson's ashes.

The descent began in the afternoon. Morrison noted that buckling his boots at high altitude required frequent breaks to catch his breath. The ski run lasted over four hours. He described the process as taking one step and one turn at a time, with many stops along the way. As he descended into oxygen-rich air, his physical endurance improved, allowing him to complete the route.

Upon reaching safety, Morrison described the experience as a tidal wave of emotions. He stated that he cried and yelled at the sky, feeling a sense of shared accomplishment with Nelson and his team. The documentary captures the technical difficulty of the north face and the personal grief behind the climb. It emphasizes the physical demands of the sport and the resilience required to continue after loss.

The film is now playing in theaters, including IMAX venues. It follows the same documentary style used in previous works by the directors, such as Free Solo and The Rescue. The narrative focuses on the relationship between the climbers and the mountain, documenting the physical and emotional journey from the 2022 tragedy to the 2025 summit.

Morrison's achievement stands as the first successful ski descent of Everest's north face. The team included Carla Perez, Esteban Mena Yanez, Pasang Sona Sherpa, Pemba Sherpa, Roberto Morales, Erich Reopke, Nigma Tenjing Sherpa, Pemba Gelje Sherpa, Pur Bahadur Gurung, and Tenging Gyaljen Sherpa. The climb required careful planning and repeated ascents to manage altitude and logistics.