Andrzej Bargiel Abandons Everest Ski Attempt
Polish ski mountaineer Andrzej Bargiel abandoned his attempt to climb and ski Everest after discovering that a massive serac threatened his route through the Khumbu Icefall. He has been hanging out in Base Camp for nearly a month, and has been unable to travel past this crux section, preventing any acclimatization. While other parties on the mountain, including an expedition party with Mountain Hardware’s CEO on board, already chose to leave, have have decided to wait a few more days to see if the serac falls. Ultrarunner Kilian Jornet is also still on the mountain, and has made it through the icefall to acclimatize at Camp 1.
The serac in question is reported to be the size of a large building, and teeters 800 meters above the Icefall, an extremely dangerous section of open glacier separating Base Camp from the mountain. Bargiel says he has weighed the odds and was not willing to risk his life to the chance of the serac breaking.
A picture of the serac in question. Andrzej Bargiel photo.
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Bargiel made history last year when he became the first person to ski off the summit of K2. He hoped to take those skills to Everest this fall.
