Andrzej Bargiel makes mountaineering history with an unprecedented descent
A World First on the World’s Highest Peak
In a historic achievement that’s reverberating through the mountaineering and ski worlds, Polish ski mountaineer Andrzej Bargiel became the first person to ski down Mount Everest from the summit without using supplemental oxygen on September 23, 2025.
Bargiel’s feat redefines what’s humanly possible on the planet’s most iconic mountain and raises the bar for high-altitude ski mountaineering worldwide.
Climbing Without Oxygen, Skiing Into History
Standing at 8,848 metres, Everest is no ordinary climb. Most summit attempts involve oxygen tanks, a team of Sherpas, and carefully staged camps. Bargiel, however, tackled the peak in a single push from Camp III, with no supplemental oxygen, no fixed ropes, and no Sherpa support.
Then came the descent — on skis.
He dropped in via the Hornbein Couloir, a narrow, exposed chute near the summit, and continued down the South Col route, traversing crevasse-riddled glaciers and steep ice fields — including the deadly Khumbu Icefall.
Tech and Teamwork in the Death Zone
While Bargiel was solo on the mountain, he wasn’t alone in strategy. His brother, Bartek Bargiel, piloted drones to scout the terrain and track his progress in real time — a modern safety net in one of the most unpredictable environments on Earth.
This mix of elite endurance, precision skiing, and advanced tech enabled him to complete the full descent in astonishing style, setting a new bar for ski mountaineering.
Why This Matters
Everest has long been a symbol of ambition and adventure — but also overcrowding, controversy, and commercialization. Bargiel’s achievement offers a new narrative: one of skill over spectacle, efficiency over excess, and respect over recklessness.
Andrzej Bargiel didn’t just climb Everest. He reimagined it, skiing from summit to base camp in one of the most daring and technically demanding descents ever completed.
As snow begins to fall across Europe’s peaks, his story reminds us that the limits of skiing — and human endurance — are still being rewritten.
For the full video and behind-the-scenes of Andrzej Bargiel’s Everest descent, visit Red Bull’s official coverage.
Image Credit: Red Bull Media House