Epic ski feat: American-Canadian trio descend formidable Trango Towers

GILGIT: In an unprecedented feat of skill and endurance, three ace skiers have made history by descending the formidable Trango Towers — a family of rock towers having some of the world’s largest cliffs — in the Karakoram Range.

The trio, consisting of two Americans and a Canadian, successfully skied down the West Face of the Great Trango Tower on May 9, a first in the annals of extreme skiing.

The Trango Towers, renowned for their vertical granite spires, are a magnet for elite climbers worldwide. The Great Trango Tower, the highest of the group at 6,286 meters, presents a more alpine-like terrain on its South and West sides, characterized by a complex system of ridges and gullies. This unique topography provided a narrow, continuous line for the daring descent.

Jim Morrison and Christina Lustenberger, both seasoned American skiers, embarked on their second attempt to ski the Great Trango Tower. They were joined by Chantel Astorga, a Canadian skier tackling this bold objective for the first time. The team meticulously planned and executed their climb and ski descent, navigating the treacherous terrain with precision and determination.

Reflecting on the achievement, Canadian skier Christina Lustenberger shared her thoughts on social media: “We hustled, we waited, we roasted, and we sent. Two wild seasons spent invested in this project. It’s hard to explain the constant obsession with a mountain. This line is wild like no other, edge-of-the-world shit. To be up there in the flow climbing, and skiing was real-life magic.”

Lustenberger also expressed her surprise at the nature of her visit to the Trango Towers. “I always thought I’d visit the Trango Towers for climbing,” she wrote on Instagram. “Never in my wildest dreams would I have guessed that my first trip [here] would be for skiing.”

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Jim Morrison, reflecting on the emotional journey, said, “Oddly, we found a way [to do the ski descent] by imagining a ski line from its summit. What seemed impossible based on its massive vertical wall became a goal due to a natural winding ribbon of snow and ice from its summit.” He added, “This was my first significant goal since Manaslu,” referencing the tragic loss of his partner, Hilaree Nelson, who fell to her death near the summit of Manaslu during their attempted ski descent.

Lustenberger and Astorga, who were also close friends and skiing partners of Nelson, dedicated this remarkable achievement to her memory. “Trango has always exemplified such a badass group who pushed climbing at extreme altitudes and grades,” Morrison remarked. “It’s long been an intention to visit this place, and oddly, we found a way by imagining a ski line from its summit.”

Sharing the summit view of the Karakoram’s highest and most prolific peaks with Christina Lustenberger and Chantel Astorga, Morrison felt a profound connection to their late friend. “It’s not lost on me that these two badass women were big inspirations to Hilaree and I felt her spirit strongly as we climbed onto the precarious summit.”