In a landmark achievement for high-altitude sports, Polish ski mountaineer Andrzej Bargiel has become the first person to successfully ski from the summit of Mount Everest back to Base Camp without the use of supplemental oxygen.

Learn more about the Location and Geography of Mount Everest here.

The historic descent, which began on September 22 and was completed on the morning of September 23, 2025.

Bargiel’s final push for the 8,848-meter summit began from Camp IV at the South Col. He endured a grueling 16-hour climb through the notorious "death zone", the altitude above 8,000 meters where oxygen levels are insufficient to sustain human life for long periods.

Upon reaching the top, he spent only a few minutes there before clipping into his skis. “I am on top of the highest mountain in the world, and I’m going to descend it on skis,” he recounted (Gripped, 2025).

The initial phase of the descent included navigating perilously steep and exposed sections, including the Hillary Step and the South Summit, before reaching a wider snowfield known as the Balcony. The descent to Camp II took several hours, but with darkness and difficult visibility making the treacherous Khumbu Icefall too dangerous to navigate, Bargiel paused for the night.

At 7:00 a.m. the next morning, he resumed his journey, facing what many consider the most dangerous part of the route: the labyrinthine Khumbu Icefall. This section is a constantly shifting river of ice, riddled with deep crevasses and towering blocks of ice called seracs.

Remarkably, Bargiel skied through this zone without using fixed ropes. A useful tool in this section was a drone, flown by his brother Bartek, which scouted a safer path from the air. He safely arrived at Everest Base Camp at 8:45 a.m., completing the full, continuous ski descent.

Read about the Best Time to Trek Everest Base Camp here.

The feat is especially significant given the extreme physiological demands. While over 6,000 people have summited Everest, fewer than 200 have done so without bottled oxygen.

To then execute a technically demanding ski descent, which requires immense balance, focus, and energy, at such an altitude is an unprecedented individual achievement. Reflecting on the challenge, Bargiel stated, “You have to be well prepared to be able to function for 16 hours above 8,000m” (Peeters, 2025).

This success was the culmination of years of dedication under his personal project, 'Hic Sunt Leones'. Before Everest, Bargiel had already achieved pioneering ski descents of six other 8,000-meter peaks, including K2, Manaslu, and Broad Peak. His previous attempts on Everest in 2019 and 2022 were foiled by a giant serac and fierce winds, respectively (Sen, 2025).

The 2025 expedition was locally managed and supported by a team of over 16 Sherpa climbers and guides. The effort was also supported by a large international team handling planning, health, safety, and filming (Sen, 2025).

The newly released footage of the descent offers a raw look at the reality of the feat. Unlike a stylized ski film, the video shows Bargiel carefully navigating the terrain with cautious turns, side-slipping, and snowplowing, particularly on the steep Lhotse Face and through the fractured Icefall.

One observer noted that the skiing often looked arduous and "super not fun," a testament to the life-or-death stakes of every turn (Dreier, 2025).

While others have skied parts of Everest before, Bargiel’s journey is unique for his ambition. Slovenian Davo Karničar made a full descent in 2000 but used oxygen. Italian Hans Kammerlander skied without oxygen in 1996 but started his run about 300 meters below the summit.

Bargiel’s continuous descent from the true summit to Base Camp, entirely without supplemental oxygen, sets a new benchmark.

Following his success, Bargiel returned to Poland on September 25. He took to social media to thank supporters who "kept their fingers crossed" during his attempt. The achievement was celebrated in his home country, with Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk writing, “Sky is the limit? Not for Poles! Andrzej Bargiel has just skied down Mount Everest.”

For the global travel and adventure community, Bargiel’s feat is a powerful testament to meticulous planning, human resilience, and the enduring drive to explore the absolute limits of possibility.

At Trek Me Nepal, we take pride in helping travelers experience the magic of these mountains firsthand. Whether you're dreaming of witnessing Everest Base Camp or exploring Nepal's other majestic trails, we are here to guide your adventure with the same spirit of dedication and respect for the mountains that defines all who are drawn to this adventure.

Reference List

Dreier, F. (2025, November 12). Skiing down Mount Everest does not look like fun. Outside. https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-gear/camping/5-ways-to-experience-awe-on-the-south-shore-of-lake-tahoe/

Gripped. (2025, November 8). Andrzej Bargiel's historic ski descent of Mount Everest. https://gripped.com/profiles/andrzej-bargiels-historic-ski-descent-of-mount-everest/

Peeters, T. (2025, October 11). New video shows Andrzej Bargiel's incredible ski descent down Mount Everest. Red Bull. https://www.redbull.com/int-en/andrzej-bargiel-mount-everest

Sen, S. (2025, September 25). Andrzej Bargiel achieves first ski descent of Everest without oxygen. The Himalayan Times. https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/andrzej-bargiel-achieves-first-ski-descent-of-everest-without-oxygen

Anweiti Upadhyay

Travel Content Writer

Upadhyay is a writer and journalist with a background in law, economics, and culture. Having worked with leading news portals in Nepal, she has an eye for detail and a curiosity about the world.As the... Read More