List of ski descents of Eight-Thousanders

Albeit arbitrary, the mountaineering community groups Earth's 14 mountains with summits exceeding 8,000 meters (26,000 feet), referred to as eight-thousanders, as a special category of peaks defining the "top of the world."^[1] Only an elite group of mountaineers can claim to have summited all 14 peaks and many have perished trying.^[2] (See eight-thousanders for current list.) Particularly since 1978 when Italian expeditionist Reinhold Messner became the first to have climbed all 14 8000m peaks, summiting the eight-thousanders has become the ultimate goal for many high altitude mountaineers.^[3] Similarly, the ski-mountaineering community has set its sights on skiing from the summits of the "eight-thousanders." In a 2007 interview for the film Skiing Everest, the Tyrolean mountaineer and skier, Hans Kammerlander articulated the challenge for the ski-mountaineering community: "Almost all peaks have been reached, almost all walls have been climbed. But seldom have the walls been skied down... It would be a lovely project if I could see someone who could ski all 8,000m peaks."^[4]

"Skiers" include those using either alpine or telemark equipment or, in two instances, a "mono ski." The category here excludes snowboarders on the premise that the orientation of the skier's body to a slope differs significantly from that of a "boarder" affecting the capacities to negotiate a pitch. A separate entry tracks snowboard descents on 8000 meter peaks (Snowboard Descents From Above 8000m: Database). Even within the category of "skiers" equipment has evolved significantly from the time of Yuichiro Miura's first foray on skis above 8000m in 1970. Big mountain skiers have benefited greatly from incorporation of lighter and stronger composite materials into the manufacture of skis, boots and bindings, reducing the carry weight of their ski gear in addition to similar advances in designs for their other climbing gear and attire. Today's ski-mountaineer has likely shaved 20–25 lb (9.1–11.3 kg).) off their gear packs compared to when, for example, Sylvain Saudan hop turned down the face of Gasherbrum I in 1982, perhaps the first full descent of an 8000 meter peak.^[5] The length, width and shape of skis has evolved to facilitate turning and flotation in deeper snow conditions. (Reports for most high altitude descents actually are far more likely to complain of hard, rutted ice than deep snow.^[4] Back country skiing whether at altitude or on the lower ranges has also seen the development of "alpine touring" bindings with detached and fixed heel configurations for use in both upslope (in the "walk" configuration) and downslope (in the "fixed-heel" configuration).

Mountaineers apply rigorous standards to define an "ascent" and its "purity." The use of oxygen, for example, is vigorously debated, and it has become practice for trip reports to distinguish ascents supported by oxygen (O₂₎from those foregoing O₂ use.^[3] But for mountaineers at least the basic standard of attaining a summit with safe return is fairly absolute, the issue of documentation aside. Debate over use of 0₂, amount of assistance from Sherpas, line of ascent and other nits are qualifiers to the purity of the ascent. In ski mountaineering, the added dimension of the purity of the descent further muddies the standards at this time. Is the top the highest elevation of the snow line or is it the geological summit? Does a descent need to be continuous and what is the consideration for terrain in the middle of the mountain that is "un-skiable?" Does it matter if the skis come off during some portion of the descent to abseil a portion? While the standards of a mountaineering ascent still apply (including notation of O₂ use), skiing, and the vagaries of "skiable" terrain add numerous variables to evaluating the purity of a descent.^[6] Any database of ski descents is therefore likely to include heterogenous data.

Of the fourteen 8000 m peaks, clearly some peaks are more skiable than others as reflected in the number of descents to date (see below). Everest, Cho Oyu, Manaslu, GasherBrum II and Shisha Pangma have all seen more than 5 expeditions ski from above 8000 m. On the other hand, there are no reported ski descents from above 8000 m on Kangchenjunga, Makalu and Broad. Dhaulagiri and Nanga Parbat have been conquered by only one expedition each. Jamie Laidlaw made the lone descent on Lhotse but not from the summit; Hans Kammerlander skied the top 400 meters of K2 but no further.

Some Firsts:

• 1970: Yuichiro Miura (Japan) made the first ski tracks above 8000m in preparation for his epic schuss starting near the south col of Everest for the film The Man Who Skied Down Everest.^[7]
• The honor of being first to ski from the top of an 8000m peak depends on the standard applied: Yves Morin (France) skied off the top of Annapurna in 1979 and over the course of the expedition skied all segments of the descent. However, he died while descending from the summit.^[8] Joseph Millinger and Peter Woergoetter (both Austrian) skied from approximately 30m below the rocky knob summit of Manaslu in 1981.^[9] The top knob was most likely not skiable due to lack of snow. However, in 2011, a cornice enabled Adrian Ballinger of the United States to "ski" from the same summit. Swiss extreme skier Sylvain Saudan's 1982 3000 m descent on skis from the top of Gasherbrum I (Hidden Peak) may be the first complete descent from the top of an 8000m peak. With estimated 3000 jump turns down a continuous 50 degree pitch Saudan's run off the top of GI is in any calculation one of the most daring extreme ski runs of all time.^[10]
• 1988: Veronique Perillat (France) was the first woman to ski from the top of an 8000er and the first woman to ski from over 8000 meters, skiing off the top of Cho Oyu on a monoski.^[11]
• 2000: Davo Karničar (Slovenia) completed the first top to bottom (base camp) descent of Everest (South Col route) without removing his skis. However, he benefited from 0₂ use. There has not been a similar ascent/descent of Everest without oxygen. 1996: Hans Kammerlander (Italy) skied the top 300 meters of Everest but climbed down to 7700m before skiing to Advance Base Camp. Kammerlander skied the North Col route.^[12]
• 2006: Kit DesLauriers (United States) was the first woman to ski off the top of Everest.^[8]

Notes on compiling this database of high altitude skiers: The 8000 meter ski database includes ski descents using alpine, telemark or mono ski equipment from above 8000m. It does not include snowboard descents. In addition to the entrant’s name and peak identification, each entry details the estimated highest and lowest skied elevations, the route, use of oxygen, ski method and other very brief notes on the descent. A single reference for each entry is noted although often multiple sources are available. Notation: "c"=camp; "bc"=base camp; "abc"=advanced base camp; "m"=meter.

EVEREST - NEPAL/CHINA - 8850 meters ^[13]

Skier Name	Nationality	Date	Start Altitude (meters)	Descent Route	Notes	O2	Age
Hans Kammerlander	ITA	1996	8848	N. face	from top 300m, 1000m by foot, ski to abc.[12]	NO	39
Davo Karničar	SLO	2000	8848	S. col	1st summit to bc ski descent without removing skis, 4h:40min[8]	YES	37
Kit DesLauriers	USA	2006	8848	S. col	1st woman to ski off summit[8]	YES	36
Jimmy Chin	USA	2006	8848	S. col	abseiled hillary skis on; hike to 200m above s.col; ski to col; night at 7800; lhotse face to abc[8]	YES	33
Rob Deslauriers	USA	2006	8848	S. col	abseiled hillary skis on; hike to s.col; night at 7800; lhotse face to abc[8]	YES	41
Olof Sundstrom	SWE	2006	8848	N. ridge	to abc (6400), removed skis for several sections[8]	YES	25
Martin Letzer	SWE	2006	8848	N. ridge	to abc (6400), removed skis for several sections[8]	YES	25
Tormod Granheim	NOR	2006	8848	Norton	to 8800; 8750 to 8500; 8480 to 7100 camped overnight; to 6500m[8]	YES	31
Tomas Olsson	SWE	2006	8848	Norton	died from fall at 8500[8]	YES	30
Pierre Tardivel	FRA	1992	8760	S. col	to c2. world altitude record at time[14]	YES	28
Dominique Perret	SUI	1996?	8300	N. face	Hornblein couloir, n. face[15]	NO	34
Jean Afanassieff	FRA	1978	8200	S. col	to 6200 "not in one smooth run"[8][16]	YES	25
Nicolas Jaeger	FRA	1978	8200	S. col	to 6200 "not in one smooth run"[8][16]	YES	31
Reinhard Patschneider	ITA	1987	8200	lhotse face from S. col	fell dislocated shoulder[8]	YES	30
Brice Lequertier	FRA	2003	8200	S. col	to 6100[8]	?	26
Yuichiro Miura	JPN	1970	8082	S. col	5-6 turns to S. Col, then wore parachute in schuss to ~6200, ended with fall[7]	YES	37

K2- PAKISTAN - 8611 meters

Skier Name	Nationality	Date	Start Altitude (meters)	Descent Route	Notes	O2	Age
Hans Kammerlander	ITA	2001	8611	Abruzzi	skied top 400m, climbed rest of route due to conditions and pitch[8]	NO	44
David Watson	USA	2009	8351	Abruzzi	skied to c3 (7351), downclimbed pyramid and chimney, skied 6400 to 5100[17]	YES	34

KANGCHENJUNGA - NEPAL - 8586 meters

No ski descents from above 8000 meters

LHOTSE - NEPAL - 8516 meters

Skier Name	Nationality	Date	Start Altitude (meters)	Descent Route	Notes	O2	Age
Jamie Laidlaw	USA	2007	8300	Face	to 6400 at night[8]	YES	27

MAKALU - NEPAL - 8586

No ski descents from above 8000 meters

CHO OYU - NEPAL - 8188 meters

Skier Name	Nationality	Date	Start Altitude (meters)	Descent Route	Notes	O2	Age
Veronique Perillat	FRA	1988	8188	NW side	monoski, first woman from 8000m[18]	NO	26
Adrian Ballinger	USA	2013	8188	NW side	continuous to C1, no snow below C1; 10m roped skiing at icecliff[19]	YES	37
Sergey Baranov	RUS	2013	8188	NW side	continuous to C1, no snow below C1; 10m roped skiing at icecliff[19]	YES	44
Halvard Stave	NOR	2001	8188	NW side	to rock band at 7800; c3 to c2; fell 300m but ok[8]	YES	25
Thierry Renard	FRA	1987	8188	NW side	to 6200 - descent disputed[8]	NO	41
Russell Reginald Brice	NZL	1996	8188	W. ridge -W. face	to 7500[8]	YES	44
Hajime Terayama	JPN	2000	8188	NW side	to 7400[8]	YES	33
Laura Bakos	USA	2000	8188	NW side	to 6600 w/ overnight at camp 3[8]	NO	32
Vladimir Smrz	SUI	2000	8188	NW side	to c2, removed skis at yellow band[8]	NO	35
Vladislav Terzyul	UKR	2000	8188	NW side	to c2; side stepped certain rock bands[8]	NO	47
Viki Groselj	SLO	2001	8188	NW side	top to c1, overnight at c2; no snow below c1[8]	NO	49
Kristoffer Erickson	USA	2001	8188	NW side	to c3(7500)[20]	YES	28
Kazuka Hiraide	JPN	2001	8188	NW side	to c3(7500)[8]	NO	22
Thomas Laemmle	GER	2003	8188	NW side	to rock band 7800; 7600 to serac (6800); 6750 to snow end (6000)[8]	NO	37
Wilhemus Pasquier	SUI	2003	8188	NW side	to C1 (6400)[8]	NO	54
Greg Nieuwenhuys	NED	2004	8188	NW side	to 8000, overnight at c3 (7500), ski c3/c2 and 6750/6400[8]	NO	24
Takashi Nizayama	JPN	2004	8188	NW side	skinned up from 8000; skied from summit to 8000[8]	YES	43
Tomas Olsson	SWE	2004	8188	NW side	continuous to c1 (6400)[8]	NO	28
Tormod Granheim	NOR	2004	8188	NW side	continuous to c1 (6400)[8]	NO	30
Martin Walter Schmidt	NZL	2004	8188	NW side	continuous to c1 (6400)[8]	NO	44
Todd Cavell Windle	NZL	2004	8188	NW side	to 7800[8]	YES	30
Jean Noel Urban	FRA	2005	8188	NW side	continuous to c2(6750)[8]	NO	45
Kasha Rigby	USA	2005	8188	NW side	to abc (5700) with overnight at c2; 1st telemark descent[8]	YES	35
Hilaree O'Neill	USA	2005	8188	NW side	to abc with overnight at c2[8]	YES	32
Kenton Edward Cool	GBR	2006	8188	NW Side	to abc (abseiled icefall c2-c1)[8]	YES	33
Dusan Debelak	SLO	2006	8188	NW side	to c2 (6750)[8]	NO	40
Octavio DeFazio	ARG	2006	8188	NW side	to c1 (6400) (except 10m ice cliff)[8]	YES	36
Martina Palm	SUI	2006	8188	NW side	to c1 (6400) (except 10m ice cliff)[8]	YES	32
Steve Marolt	USA	2007	8188	NW side	to c1 (6600)[8][21]	NO	42
Medhi Didault	FRA	2007	8188	NW side	to c1 (6600)[8]	NO	22
Tyler Johnson	USA	2007	8188	NW side	to abc (5700) with overnight at c2[8]	NO	31
Rory Stark	USA	2007	8188	NWside	to abc (5700) with overnight at c2[8]	NO	36
James Gile	USA	2007	8150	NW side	to c1(6600)[8]	NO	43
Michael Aasheim	USA	2005	8100	NW Side	skied to abc (5700) (thru icefall)[8]	NO	43
Daniel McCann	USA	2005	8100	NW side	skied to abc (5700) (thru icefall)[8]	NO	43
Mike Marolt	USA	2007	8100	NW side	to c1 (6600)[21]	NO	42
Suzy Madge	GBR	2008	8188	NWside	to above c2 where rescued a lone mountaineer[22]	YES	35
Fabio Beozzi	ITA	2011	8100	NW side	to 6000 (thru Messner Route, 1st ski descent)[8]	NO	37
Jose Diogo Giraldes Tavares	POR	2011	8050	NW side	to ABC (5700) with overnight at c2 (7100)[8]	NO	44

DHAULAGIRI - NEPAL - 8167 meters

Skier Name	Nationality	Date	Start Altitude (meters)	Descent Route	Notes	O2	Age
Tunc Findic	TUR	2009	8147	NE Ridge	downclimbed 7300-6700 (ice)[8]	NO	37
David Fojtik	CZE	2009	8147	NE Ridge	20m below summit couloir to 30m above C3 (7200);C2 (6700) to BC (4700)[8]	NO	36

MANASLU - NEPAL - 8163 meters

Skier Name	Nationality	Date	Start Altitude (meters)	Descent Route	Notes	O2	Age
Benedikt Bohm	GER	2012	8163	NE Face	to bc (5000); skis off 7400-7300[23]	NO	35
Adrian Ballinger	USA	2011	8163	NE Face	skied summit cornice from top, skis off 6100 to 5800 on descent from summit due to avalanche, 6100-5800 (hourglass) skied on previous day[24]	YES	34
Sergey Baranove	RUS	2011	8148	NE Face	skis off 6100 to 5800 "hourglass"[25]	YES
Guy Willet	GBR	2009	8148	NE Face	downclimbed 1st 15m, skied to 5050 w/ 5m downclimb @6250[26]	YES	38
Robert Kay	USA/AUST	2011	8148	NE Face	downclimbed 1st 15m, skied to 7400 and 5800 to 5000 (crampon point)[27]	YES	49
Emma Jack	GBR	2009	8148	NE Face	Skied to 5000m where snow ran out w/ short downclimb @ 6250m[28]	YES	36
Kenton Cool	GBR	2010	8148	NE Face	to C2 (6400)/ 2 days[29]	YES	37
Andrew Eggleston	GBR	2010	8148	NE Face	to C2 (6400)/ 2 days[29]	YES	30
Josef Millinger	AUT	1981	8133	NE Face	skied from about 30m below summit to c5; then to c1 next day[30]	NO	39
Peter Woergoetter	AUT	1981	8133	NE Face	skied from about 30m below summit to c5; then to c1 next day[30]	NO	39
Nobukazu Kuriki	JPN	2008	8133	NE Face	to c3 (6900) then to bc next day (4800)[8]	NO	26
Sebastian Haag	GER	2012	8003	NE Face	to basecamp (5000) with skis off 7400-7300[23]	NO	34
Constantin Pade		2012	8003	NE Face	to basecamp (5000) with skis off 7400-7300[23]	NO
Andres Jorquera Taipa	CHI	2009	8000	NE Face	to 5000 (crampon pt) over 3 days[8]	NO	33

NANGA PARBAT - PAKISTAN - 8126 meters

SkierName	Nationality	Date	Start Altitude (meters)	Descent Route	Notes	O2	Age
Hans Kammerlander	ITA	1990	8025	Diamir face (Kinshofer)	downclimb top 100m, ski to bc[31]	NO	34
Diego Wellig	SUI	1990	8025	Diamir face (Kinshofer)	downclimb 1st 100m, ski to bc[31]	NO	29

ANNAPURNA - NEPAL - 8093 meters

Skier Name	Nationality	Date	Start Altitude (meters)	Descent Route	Notes	O2	Age
Yves Morin	FRA	1979	8091	N Face	skied all sections but died at 6600 on descent from summit[8]	NO	34
Davo Karničar	SLO	1995	8091	normal route	1st descent from top to bc in one day - hawley notes suggest started 1200m below top?[8]	NO	32
Andrej Karnicar	SLO	1995	8091	normal route	1st descent from top to bc in one day[8]	NO	25

GASHERBRUM I (HIDDEN PEAK) - PAKISTAN - 8080 meters

Skier Name	Nationality	Date	Start Altitude (meters)	Descent Route	Notes	O2	Age
Sylvain Saudan	SUI	1982	8080	N. Face	longest 50 degree slope ever skied? Age 42[10]	NO	42
Iztok Tomazin	SLO	1995	8080	N. Face	Overnight at c3, Abseiled 8m section in Japanese couloir, to 5300[32]	NO	45

BROAD PEAK - PAKISTAN - 8051 meter

No descents from above 8000 meters

GASHERBRUM II - PAKISTAN - 8034 meters

Skier Name	Nationality	Date	Start Altitude (meters)	Descent Route	Notes	O2	Age
Jacques Demarolle	FRA	1984	8034	SW Ridge	skied summit to c4 (7500)[33]
Frederic Maurel	FRA	1984	8034	SW Ridge	skied summit to c4 (7500)[33]
P. Glaizes	FRA	1984	8034	SW Ridge	skied summit to c4 (7500)[33]
P. Guedu	FRA	1984	8034	SW Ridge	skied summit to c4 (7500)[33]
Wilhemus Pasquier	SUI	1984	8034	SW Ridge	summit to bc (5200) over 3 days all on ski including 10m serac repel[33]		35
Patrice Bournat	FRA	1984	8034	SW Ridge	summit to bc (5200) over 3 days all on ski including 10m serac repel[33]
Thierry Renard	FRA	1985	8034	South Face	bivouaced at 7500, skied to c1 (5400) next day.[34]		42
Fredrik Ericsson	SWE	2005	8034	East Face	to c3 (7000m)[35]	NO	30
Jorgen Aamot	NOR	2005	8034	East Face	to c3 (7000m)[36]	NO	31
Jean Noel Urban	FRA	2006	8034	SW Ridge		NO	46
Louis Stizinger	GER	2006	8034	SW Ridge	17hr ABC to ABC (5900m); skied entire descent[37]		39
Benedikt Bohm	GER	2006	8034	SW Ridge	summit to c3[37]	NO	29
Sebastian Haag	GER	2006	8034	SW Ridge	summit to c3[37]	NO	28
Benedikt Bohm	GER	2006	8034	SW Ridge	17hr ABC to ABC (5900m); skied entire descent[37]	NO	29
Sebastian Haag	GER	2006	8034	SW Ridge	17hr ABC to ABC (5900m); skied entire descent[37]	NO	28

SHISHA PANGMA - CHINA - 8027 meter

Skier Name	Nationality	Date	Start Altitude (meters)	Descent Route	Notes	O2	Age
Peter Woergoetter	AUT	1985	8027	NE Face	uncertain if descended from main or central summit[38]		44
Oswald Gassler	AUT	1985	8027	NE Face	uncertain if descended from main or central summit[38]		38
Mark Whetu	NZL	1987	8027	Northern route	AAJ'88/279 suggests whetu from summit[39]		28
Jean Noel Urban	FRA	2005	8027	SW Face - scott rte	main summit partial descent[40]	NO	45
Giorgio Daidola	ITA	1988	8027	Northern Route	[41]	NO
Pino Negri	ITA	1988	8027	Northern Route	[41]
Mike Marolt	USA	2000	8008	Northern Route	central summit; 1st N. Am. to ski from 8000m[42]	NO	36
Steve Marolt	USA	2000	8008	Northern route	central summit; 1st N. Am. to ski from 8000m[42]	NO	36
Fredrik Ericsson	SWE	2004	8008		central summit[43]	NO	29
Jean Noel Urban	FRA	2004	8008	SW Face - Loretan rte	central summit partial descent[40]	NO	44
Mark Newcomb	USA	2005	8008	Untsch	central summit[44]	NO	38
Kent McBride	USA	2005	8008	Untsch	central summit[45]	NO
Jerzy Kukuczka	POL	1987	~8000	Northern Route	from bivac at around 8000m, partial descent[39]	NO	39

See also

• Eight-thousander
• List of highest mountains
• Skiing Everest
• Extreme skiing
• Ski mountaineering

References

For the eight Nepalese peaks, the Himalayan Database from Hawley and Salisbury is the best single reference, particularly because Elizabeth Hawley et al. often interviewed the teams and solicited trip reports enabling some verification of the claims.^[8] Nevertheless searching the Himalayan Database on “skiing/snowboarding” still occasionally omits expeditions who reported ski descents in their expedition notes but for some reason are not categorized under skiing/snowboarding or in several instances simply omit discussing skiing altogether in the database report. It is probably the case that information from many years ago, while admirably back filled by Hawley, focused on ascents without reference to descent by skis. For the Pakistani peaks sources include web references, the American Alpine Journal and other expedition accounts. Similar sources are referenced for Shisha Pangma in China. Little or no attempt has been made to verify claims. Disputed claims are noted in the notes. It is hoped that by publishing this preliminary database, alpinists and others will correct, update and fill out what can only be considered a preliminary attempt to accurately catalogue skiing above 8000m.