INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 3The Everest Ski Project architected by top American climbers has still been clouded by uncertainty
after China delayed in issuing a ski permit to the team, sources have claimed.
China bars top US climbers from entering
Climbers celebrate Mount Everest 70th anniversary amid melting
glaciers, rising temperatures
The million-dollar
project funded by the National Geographic Society and the North Face has already faced challenges after China categorically denied entry
Conrad is designated as the expedition leader of the Ski team while Jimmy is the production head of the filming project."Most of the team
members except Conrad and Jimmy have already reached Tibet but they are still in dilemma due to lack of ski permit," sources from the base
Scattered with uncertainty, some of the team members are still in Tingri while others have reached the base camp, sources shared, a few
members of the team have, however, reached the 'Advance Base Camp'
"ABC is set up and the fixing team will soon head for the Hornbein Couloir route to fix the Camp I," sources said, "There is no update from
the Chinese authorities till date and they are still lingering to issue a ski permit to the team."
Following the Tibet visa
denial, Jimmy Chin is still lobbying with the Tibetan authorities including the General Administration of Sports of China to secure a ski
permit, sources said, the team, which was initially granted only with a climbing permit for a normal route of the Everest north side, has
now been allowed to climb from the Hornbein Couloir route
"That's why we were able to set up the ABC," sources shared, "Without a ski permit, the project has no meaning."NatGeo/North Face Ski
Project aims to produce a film on ski descent from the top of Everest via Hornbein Couloir this autumn
The Couloir was named after a member of the 1963 US Everest Expedition, Thomas Hornbein
"But, time is running out here and weather is so fragile," sources said, adding that it would also be quite challenging for the fixing team
to make it to Camp I as there are deep crevasses along the route."A team of Sherpa climbers including Mingma Tenzi Sherpa, co-owner of Elite
Exped, is in Tibet to provide ground support while a few Chinese members also joined the team as liaison officers in Tibet
Ski mountaineer Jim Morrison and award-winning cinematographer Mark Fisher have already reached the base camp to attempt to scale Everest
It's a project reportedly designed by Jim Morrison in memory of his partner Hilaree Nelson
Extreme American ski mountaineer Hilaree had been found dead after attempting to ski down from the summit of Mt Manaslu in 2022
"Jim Morrison has a plan to make a ski descent from the Everest top via Hornbein Couloir route," Sources added.The Everest Ski Project has
Nims along with other few climbers including record-holding woman climber Dawa Yangzum Sherpa will join the Everest ski filming team after
completing their 14 peaks project on Shishapangma, according to sources.
This article first appeared/also appeared in https://thehimalayantimes.com