Trio Claims First Ski Descent of Pakistan’s Great Trango Tower

In May 2024, an elite trio, Jim Morrison (USA), Christina “Lusti” Lustenberger (CAN), and Chantel Astorga (USA), made history. Carving out the first-ever ski descent of Great Trango Tower, a monumental 6,286 m granite spire in Pakistan’s Karakoram, they etched their names into the record books.

Obviously, Great Trango had never been skied. Morrison, Lustenberger, and Astorga identified a serpentine snow-and-ice ribbon along the peak’s West Face—an alpine-style descent hidden amongst sheer walls.

Their first attempt in 2023 ended 500 m below the summit due to an impassable crevasse. Undeterred, they returned in spring 2024 for a renewed push. Precise timing was crucial to preserve snow on the ridge line before summer heat set in.

Lustenberger described the line as “real‑life magic... edge of the world kinda sh*t."

The expedition carried deep emotional weight. For Morrison, it was his first major objective since his partner Hilaree Nelson died in an accident on Manaslu.

Facing altitude, unstable snow, visas problems, illness, the trio spent weeks of waiting at base camp. The unspoken trust, shared resilience, and patient solidarity developed through those long weeks helped the group get through the mission.

"There was a lot of socializing, card games, stretching, walking, reading, watching movies, and dreaming about eating good food," said Astorga.

Directed by Leo Hoorn, Trango showcases the expedition in all its visceral glory. It is screening at festivals and North Face events following its 2025 Sundance premiere. We can't wait to check out the full feature!