On October 15th, 2025, American mountaineer Jim Morrison successfully skied down Mount Everest’s North Face using a notoriously challenging linkup of the Hornbein and Japanese Couloirs. According to National Geographic, he reached the summit at 12:45pm local time before clipping into his skis and beginning a four hour and five minute decent down the icy, 50 degree slope.
This was Morrison’s third time attempting the wild line. In 2023, permit issues had them arriving at the mountain too late in the season. In 2024, a small avalanche injured a crew member and forced a massive rescue effort. Fortunately Yukta Gurung, the injured crew member, was able to make a full recovery. Morrison did descend on his skis from around 22,966 feet in 2024, but wasn’t able to make the entire mountain.
Morrison reached the summit of Everest alongside 11 other climbers, including a film crew led by photographer and National Geographic Explorer Jimmy Chin. Jimmy Chin and Chai Vasarhelyi, both of whom worked on the 2018 film Free Solo, are directing a documentary focused on Morrison’s accomplishment.
After taking summit photos, Morrison spread the ashes of his late wife, Hilaree Nelson, who passed away on Manaslu, the world’s 8th-tallest peak. As the crew began their descent back down the mountain, Morrison strapped on his skis and began working his way down an unbelievable 9,000 vertical feet to the Rongbuk Glacier.
Massive congratulations to Jim Morrison and the entire crew involved in this incredible accomplishment. We’re all very excited to see the documentary when it’s released.
