American man first ever to ski down narrow route on northern face of Mount Everest

U.S. skier James Morrison has become the first person to ski down a narrow route on the northern face of Mount Everest.

Mr. Morrison, 50, reached the peak of Mount Everest at around 12:45 p.m. Wednesday via the Hornbein Couloir on the north face of the mountain, after spending 6 1/2 weeks climbing the world’s highest mountain, according to National Geographic.

Couloirs are narrow, steep gullies that descend down a mountain.

Mr. Morrison then spent four hours and five minutes descending 9,000 feet at a 50-degree slope via the Hornbein Couloir and the Japanese Couloir before reaching the end of the route, National Geographic said.

The Hornbein Couloir is the straightest and steepest route going down Mount Everest, located in the Himalayas on the border between China and Nepal.

“It’s super steep and unrelenting from top to bottom. It’s more than a mile long and just massive, dark, and beautiful in scale,” Mr. Morrison said.
The expedition was Mr. Morrison’s third try at skiing down the Hornbein Couloir — the first two failed during the ascent stage. He also is first person in 30 years to reach Mount Everest’s peak by using that route. The skier was accompanied by 11 other climbers, sherpas and a National Geographic film crew.

Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, directors of 2018’s Oscar-winning National Geographic documentary “Free Solo,” are directing a film on Mr. Morrison’s ascent and descent of Mount Everest.