Polish climber makes history skiing Mount Everest without oxygen
Andrzej Bargiel completes the summit-to-descent on Everest without supplemental oxygen, spending about 16 hours in the death zone.
A Polish mountaineer has become the first person to ski down Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen, expedition organizers confirmed Thursday. Andrzej Bargiel, 37, reached the summit at 29,032 feet on Sept. 22 and then began his descent on skis, a feat described by organizers as a historic milestone in extreme endurance sports. Bargiel’s climb was documented in a video posted to his Instagram page in which he indicated he would descend on skis.
Officials said Bargiel spent about 16 hours in the death zone above 8,000 meters, where the air is thin and survival hinges on supplemental oxygen. He completed the descent in two stages: first skiing from the summit to Camp II, where he spent the night, and then pushing on the next morning through what is described as the Khumbu Icefall, one of the mountain’s most treacherous passages, to reach base camp.
Seven Summit Treks, the Nepal-based outfitter that managed Bargiel's expedition, confirmed the feat as the first of its kind. Bargiel has pursued high-altitude firsts before: in 2018 he became the first person to ski down Pakistan’s K2, a feat noted by BBC News; he had previously attempted Everest in 2019 and again in 2022 but was stopped by unstable ice and high winds.
On his arrival at Base Camp Bargiel was welcomed with a khada, a ceremonial Buddhist scarf, as Sherpas and organizers marked the accomplishment. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk celebrated the achievement on X, praising Bargiel as a record setter for Poland.
Everest guides say the feat underscores the growing appetite for daring high-altitude records in the Himalayas, with Bargiel previously conquering K2 and repeatedly attempting Everest before this successful descent. The operation was led by Seven Summit Treks, a Nepal-based outfitter that coordinated the climb and safety plan. Reaching base camp without bottled oxygen is a rare feat in modern mountaineering, and Bargiel now stands among a small group of climbers who have attempted similar descents in recent decades.
The accomplishment adds to Bargiel’s reputation for pushing the limits of high altitude mountaineering. His team emphasized the dual achievement of summiting Everest and then skiing off the summit to base without supplemental oxygen, a move that required meticulous planning, favorable weather windows, and strict safety protocols.
