Polish ski mountaineer Andrzej Bargiel has once again made headlines by becoming the first person to climb Mount Everest without supplementary oxygen and then ski down all the way to Base Camp. The 37-year-old accomplished this feat over four days from September 19 to 23, 2025, setting a new benchmark in high-altitude adventure sports.
His expedition, named the Everest Ski Challenge 2025, required incredible endurance, skill, and meticulous planning to navigate Everest’s notoriously dangerous terrain in extreme conditions.
A Four-Day Challenge to Conquer Everest
Bargiel departed Everest Base Camp at 4:30 a.m. on September 19, undertaking a rigorous acclimatisation process by rotating between Camps I, II, and III before establishing at Camp IV on the South Col at 7,900 metres. His final summit push began late at night on September 21.
Due to fresh heavy snowfall, trail-breaking was slower and more strenuous, but after nearly 16 hours in the “death zone” – altitudes where oxygen is insufficient for human survival — Bargiel reached Everest’s summit, the world’s highest point at 8,849 metres, at around 3 p.m. on September 22. Reduced to minutes on top for safety, he clipped into his skis immediately to start his descent.
A Daring Ski Down Unseen Before
The descent covered key landmarks including the Hillary Step, South Summit, Balcony, and South Col, reaching below Camp IV by early evening. At Camp II, around 6,400 metres altitude, darkness forced him to pause and rest overnight. On the morning of September 23, Bargiel resumed skiing, skillfully navigating the treacherous Khumbu Icefall – a notoriously dangerous sector riddled with deep crevasses and shifting ice – without ropes or fixed lines. Here, he was helped by a drone operated by his brother, mapping out the safest route.
He reached Everest Base Camp by 8:45 a.m., completing the first uninterrupted ski descent from Everest’s summit without supplemental oxygen.
Legacy of Pushing Limits
This accomplishment follows Bargiel’s previous groundbreaking ski descent of K2 in 2018, further cementing his reputation as a pioneer in extreme ski mountaineering. Dr. Patrycja Jonetzko, an expedition doctor, highlighted the feat’s remarkable physiological demand, saying, “What Andrzej has achieved goes beyond human capabilities, fighting hypoxia with every step.”
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk congratulated Bargiel, celebrating his embodiment of Poland’s spirit of resilience and aspiration. The expedition was supported by a skilled team of Sherpas and guided by extensive prior experience in Himalayan skiing. This journey was also captured for a documentary in the making, aiming to inspire future generations of adventurers.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Andrzej Bargiel’s journey is a shining example of human courage, determination, and harmonious engagement with nature’s most formidable challenges. His pursuit to push human limits respectfully and sustainably aligns with The Logical Indian’s commitment to empathy, balance, and coexistence.
In a world increasingly conscious of environmental impact and ethical exploration, his achievement provokes reflection on how bold ambitions can coexist with protecting our planet’s fragile ecosystems.
