Archive · 29 Oct 2025
Jim Morrison Completes First Ski Descent of Everest's Super Direct Route
A very brave climber named Jim Morrison skied down a super dangerous part of Mount Everest that no one had ever skied before.
This part of the mountain is called the Super Direct route on the North Face.
It was a really long and scary ski trip that took four hours.
Jim was thinking about his friend, Hilaree Nelson, who passed away, and he wanted to do this for both of them.
He climbed up with a team, and the conditions were tough, with bad snow and high winds.
At the very top, he was alone, but he focused on making each turn safely down the mountain.
He said the snow was horrible, but he managed to ski down a lot of it.
It was like skydiving on skis, because falling would have been a disaster.
When he reached the bottom, he was so emotional and happy to have completed this dangerous and special journey.
Jim Morrison achieved the first-ever ski descent of Mount Everest's perilous Super Direct route on the North Face.
The historic run took place on October 15 and lasted approximately four hours, descending 9,000 feet.
Morrison undertook the dangerous ski descent in honor of his late life partner, Hilaree Nelson.
The route is considered one of the most challenging and intimidating ski descents, with a high risk of fatal falls.
Conditions during the climb and descent were described as horrific, with challenging snowpack and severe weather.
- Who
- Mountaineer Jim Morrison
- What
- Completed the first-ever ski descent of Mount Everest's Super Direct route on the North Face.
- When
- October 15
- Where
- Mount Everest, North Face, Super Direct Route
- Why
- To honor his late life partner, Hilaree Nelson, who had dreamed of this feat with him.
Morrison's Perspective
Team's Perspective (as conveyed by Chin)
Emotional Significance
Morrison's Perspective
Morrison described feeling emotionally closer to his late partner, Hilaree Nelson, as he ascended further into the death zone, seeing the descent as a way to honor their shared dream.
Team's Perspective (as conveyed by Chin)
Documentarian Jimmy Chin framed the extreme danger, comparing the ski descent to 'free soloing' and highlighting the catastrophic consequences of any mistake, emphasizing the objective risk of the undertaking.
Snow Conditions
Morrison's Perspective
Morrison found the snow conditions 'really, really bad' and 'abominable,' describing it as 'horrific snow pack' yet still managed to 'shred a lot of it.'
Team's Perspective (as conveyed by Chin)
The articles describe the team's careful timing for a 'narrow weather window' seeking 'enough snow to ski and safe conditions,' implying a consensus on the critical and precarious nature of the snow for the attempt.
- Mountaineer
- Jim Morrison
- Route
- Super Direct Route, North Face of Mount Everest
- Date of Descent
- October 15
- Duration of Descent
- Four hours
- Elevation
- Approximately 29,000 feet (8,800 meters)
- Previous Ski Descents of Route
- None
- Previous Ascents of Route
- Five people (last in 1991)