Entertainment · Film · 10 hrs ago
Everest documentary examines risk, grief and a dangerous ski descent
Mountaineers Jim Morrison and Hilaree Nelson aimed to climb Everest’s north face and ski down it, a feat no one had completed.
Everest’s north face is steep and less travelled than the south side, and only a handful of climbers had reached its summit.
Nelson died in a 2022 avalanche during an expedition on another Nepalese mountain, leaving two sons.
Morrison later decided to continue with the Everest goal, while grieving earlier losses of his wife and two children in a plane crash.
The documentary weighs the danger of extreme climbing against its personal costs, including the impact on families and the Nepalese guides who assist visiting climbers.
Filmmakers Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi also consider whether to continue making the film after Nelson’s death.
Chin joined Morrison on an aborted ascent and a successful attempt in 2025, though the sources do not say whether Morrison completed the ski descent.
The documentary “Everest: The Other Side” follows Jim Morrison and Hilaree Nelson’s effort to climb Everest’s north face and ski back down.
Nelson died in an avalanche in 2022 during an expedition in Nepal while the pair were waiting to attempt Everest.
The film includes Morrison’s recovery of Nelson’s body two days after her death and examines grief and the risks of extreme mountaineering.
Morrison later continued with the Everest project, completing a successful attempt with filmmaker Jimmy Chin in 2025.
Reviews of the film raise questions about the consequences of such ambitions for climbers’ families and rescuers.
- Who
- Mountaineers Jim Morrison and Hilaree Nelson, with filmmakers Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin.
- What
- A documentary follows Morrison and Nelson’s plan to climb Everest’s north face and ski down it, while also addressing Nelson’s death and its aftermath.
- When
- Nelson died in 2022. Morrison’s successful Everest attempt was in 2025; the reviews were published on October 27 and 28, 2026.
- Where
- Mount Everest’s north face and a Nepalese mountain where Nelson died in an avalanche.
- Why
- Morrison and Nelson aimed to climb Everest’s north side and ski down. Morrison described the descent as “the raddest ski line in the world.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Nelson died in an avalanche on a Nepalese mountain during an expedition with Morrison.
Morrison recovered Nelson’s body.
Morrison resolved to continue with the Everest climb.
Chin accompanied Morrison on a successful Everest attempt.
AP and the Guardian published reviews of “Everest: The Other Side.
- Climbers
- Jim Morrison and Hilaree Nelson
- Mountain route
- Everest’s north face
- Nelson’s death
- 2022 avalanche in Nepal
- Body recovery
- Morrison recovered Nelson’s body two days after her death
- Successful attempt
- 2025, with filmmaker Jimmy Chin accompanying Morrison
- Reviews published
- October 27 and 28, 2026
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What people are saying
This movie, the worst happened
How many people who have eaten at our dinner table have died?
the raddest ski line in the world