Andrzej Bargiel from Poland has made history as the first person to ski down Mount Everest without using an oxygen tank, his team announced on Thursday.
The 1980s were a golden era for Polish Himalayan mountaineering, celebrated for “Ice Warriors” such as Jerzy Kukuczka and the late Wanda Rutkiewicz, who led groundbreaking expeditions, especially daring winter ascents, and carved out new routes.
Thirty-seven-year-old Bargiel continues this legacy. In 2018, he became the first person to ski down K2, the second-highest peak globally.
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Bargiel’s journey to the summit of the Himalayas’ highest peak, towering at 8,849 meters, was delayed by heavy snowfall, according to his team’s statement.
“The Pole endured a 16-hour challenging climb in the death zone (above 8,000m) without supplemental oxygen,” the statement read.
“He spent only moments at the summit before strapping on his skis for a historic descent, racing against the sunset.”
A video shared on Bargiel’s Facebook page showed him gliding down a thick snow layer amidst the world’s highest peaks.
Watch the daring feat here:
Bargiel halted at Camp 2, around 6,400m, due to nightfall, which hindered safe navigation. He resumed his descent at dawn, the team reported.
“Is the sky the limit? Not for Poles! Andrzej Bargiel has just skied down Mount Everest!” wrote Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on the social media platform X.
