Polish Mountaineer Andrzej Bargiel Achieves Historic Ski Descent from Nanga Parbat

Polish ski mountaineer Andrzej Bargiel has achieved a groundbreaking feat, completing the first full ski descent from the summit of Nanga Parbat (8,126 meters) in Pakistan without using supplemental oxygen. The historic descent occurred on June 30, 2026, marking the culmination of his ambitious "Hic Sunt Leones" project.

Bargiel, accompanied by Janusz Gołąb, began the decisive phase of the expedition on June 28, ascending from Base Camp. They navigated challenging conditions, spending nights at Camp 2 (6,200 meters) and Camp 3 (6,850 meters) before launching their summit push. Bargiel spent approximately 45 minutes at the summit with Gołąb before commencing his descent down the Diamir face, a route known for its steep snowfields and the technically demanding "Messner's Route" section with seracs.

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I went up the classic route. The descent was via a completely different route through the middle of the face, and it was truly a super line, I had fun skiing, and I think that's the most important thing.

The descent concluded on June 30 at around 3:00 PM local time, below Camp 1 at an altitude of approximately 4,400 meters, where snow conditions ended. The entire mountain operation, from leaving Base Camp to returning, took 2 days and 9 hours. Bargiel described the descent line as a "super line" and emphasized the enjoyment of skiing, while Gołąb noted the complexity of the project, stating, "There is no room for chance on Nanga Parbat."

With this successful descent, Bargiel has now completed his objective of skiing down all five Pakistani eight-thousanders, including Broad Peak, K2, Gasherbrum I, and Gasherbrum II. He is the first person in history to accomplish this extraordinary mountaineering and skiing milestone.

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It was one of the most complicated ski projects I have seen in high mountains. Andrzej had to solve the terrain in real-time practically the whole time. There is no room for chance on Nanga Parbat.