The U.S. expedition aiming to film a ski descent of the Hornbein Couloir on the North Side of Everest has aborted its attempt.
Details are few, but a short report in The Himalayan Times blames poor conditions on the route and too little remaining time for why they called off the attempt above Camp 3.
It is not clear whether this U.S. Ski Everest team planned to summit Everest via the normal North Col route and then ski down the Hornbein or had planned an alternative ascent route.
The expedition included skier Jim Morrison, who had hoped to ski Everest as a tribute to his late wife, Hilaree Nelson. She perished while skiing down from the summit of Manaslu two years ago. Oscar-winning filmmaker Jimmy Chin (Free Solo) was also a member of the team. It was outfitted by Elite Exped, with Nirmal Purja’s partner Mingma David Sherpa in the support climbing team.
This is their second failed attempt at the project. Last fall, some members were refused an entry visa, and the climbers also failed to obtain a permit to ski Everest.
