The American Everest Ski Project has ended almost before it began. The high-profile team, which included Conrad Anker, Jimmy Chin, and Jim Morrison, aimed to climb Everest’s North Side, and then ski down the Hornbein Couloir.
Today, they abandoned their attempt at Camp 2. The sherpas who were to fix rope above that camp retreated today because of bad weather. They were also reportedly following the instructions of an official in Base Camp, The Himalayan Times reported, citing sources close to Tibetan authorities.
Unusual hurdles
The big-budget expedition was supported by National Geographic and The North Face. Yet it faced unusual bureaucratic obstacles for such a well-connected project.
First, team leaders Jimmy Chin and Conrad Anker were refused a visa to enter Tibet. Then the Chinese authorities delayed the necessary permit to ski down the mountain.
Ski mountaineer Jim Morrison had hoped to ski down the Hornbein Couloir as a tribute to his late wife Hilaree Nelson. She perished on Manaslu last year.
